First time hatching silkies. Is it always this bad?

[huckleberryfarm]

I've hatched a lot of different types of chicks with very little problems. This is my first hatch of silkies. ARGH! Every one had spraddle leg. One had a crooked foot and spraddle leg. I tried everything I could think of to help it but it died. They just seem so fragile. Is it always like this? I wanted a porcelain silkie so badly from this hatch! I had one hatch and it has 4 toes.

That stinks. I have another batch of silkies from a different breeder going into lockdown tomorrow. I'm not sure I can take the stress! Who am I kidding.... I can but I wish it were easier!

 

[E.M. Silkies]

I'm sorry you're not having much luck. We'll cross our fingers for the next hatch to go perfectly!! I'm also hatching my first batch of Silkies--they went into lockdown yesterday but one of them decided it was time to hatch today! I'm not sure if it's going to make it... We shall see. The Silkies are supposed to be pretty tough and hardy so I am a bit surprised. But I guess chicks will be chicks. Good luck! And don't let one bad experience get you down!

 

[chikincrazee]

Hi dont despair...i just hatched some silkies and 9 made it fine then i had to help 4 others and one little guy came out on its own fine but wasnt right and passed away 3 days later...one has bad spraddle leg and im not sure it will make it either...they are fickle little peeps to hatch out but when they do it is so worth it as they are the cutest little fuzzy chicks...now we know why show silkies are expensive as it takes a lot of work and some luck to get one that is SQ...i have nankins and they are so fertile and hatch like crazy with very little fuss so its not your hatching knowledge just a finicky breed....dont give up and sending positive hatching vibes your way for your next batch...ps check out Fawkes Feathers website as she has some great information in her, about silkies, about hatching them....good luck

 

[JosieChick]

Don't know if you plan on treating the spraddle leg or not but there is a post somewhere on here about using a thin rubber band instead of bandaids so the chick can run around still. I tried it on my last chick with spraddle leg and it worked fabulously!! In 2 days it was looking great and it could get to the food and water and run around with the other chicks! Good luck.

 

[Rathbone]

Mine are hatching out today - but under a hen so happily it will go as well as it can go. Just sorry to hear you are having troubles. It is so nerve-wracking.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

Yes, I did treat the spraddle leg with bandaids. I was alone and the rubber band is difficult to do by myself! So far it seems to be working. My daughter just asked where her "favorite" silkie is. Had to tell her it died. Oh, well. They are so cute! I just love their little faces. Now if I just knew what colors they were! Hope everyone's hatches go well! I may have one more pipping.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I am having similar problems with mine. Another BYCer asked if I was feeding Layena. Indeed I was. She said she had had similar problems while hers were eating Layena. I hav now switched to the co-op feed that has higher protein levels in it. I don't know if it is the protein or some other nutritional deficit. I haven't hatched a round since the girls switched foods. My first hatch of silkies came from hens that were eating the co-op food and I had zero problems with them. The last several hatches have been Layena fed and I have had curled toes, spraddle leg and a variation on wry neck with a lot of them. I managed to save a few of them by feeding them grogel. I am told that polyvisol helps, but I can't seem to remember to get it at the store.
I won't hatch again until spring, but will continue to feed them co-op feed. I'll let you know if my hatches turn out differently. Given how the summer has gone, I'm guessing that is a big part of my problem.

Good luck with yours. It is so sad when the tiny babies die.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

That's really interesting about the food. I bought these eggs from a BYC member so I have no idea what they're eating! I plan to start breeding my own in the spring and I'll definitely keep that in mind. Mine just eat the stuff from Tractor Supply.

 

[kelidei]

next week I am getting some red silkies and some porcelain d'Uccle eggs from MPC... never ordered hatching eggs from them before so this will be a first...