First Time Silkie Owner

[shellyjimrye]

So I just want to say.... I am a first time silkie owner and frankly, they are all around 6 weeks old and they are so scruffy and ratty looking. My husband said it best that they look like they were drug through a hedge backwards! How long before the silkies start to look like the beauties they will grow into?

 

[ten chicks]

So I just want to say.... I am a first time silkie owner and frankly, they are all around 6 weeks old and they are so scruffy and ratty looking. My husband said it best that they look like they were drug through a hedge backwards! How long before the silkies start to look like the beauties they will grow into?

Not sure what you mean by scruffy and ratty? My white silkies are 4 weeks,and look like little puff balls,very fluffy.

 

[mandelyn]

Not all of them turn into super fluffy "classic" Silkies that you see in photos. Bloodline plays a role in how full/fluffy they get. You want show stock if there is a certain look you're going for, based on photos you've seen online.

That being said, they're in the most scruffy/ragged age right now, growing new feathers. They have a lot more feathers to grow. By 12 weeks old or so you start getting a better idea of what sort of birds they'll turn out to be, but even then they'll need to fill out a bit more.

 

[shellyjimrye]

Of the five, three are looking pretty good now... two are still loosing their fuzz and feathers are coming in and they do look scruffy and patchy and funny. I can see that the feathers that ARE coming in are looking pretty nice. I agree that the bloodlines will dictate what the adult bird will look like. I got mine from a large hatchery so doubtful that the "best" bloodlines are going to be carried on with them. Doesnt matter to me though. I love the assortment and even if they arent ever show worthy, it will not matter to me. I just thought they look so darn funny. Might be with their dark skin, the "rattiness" shows up more than the other chicken breeds.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Yes baby chicks go through a very rough phase, and they look scruffy during that time.

Hatchery silkies won't have the very large crests of breeder silkies, but (having had breeder silkies and hatchery silkies) I rather like that my silkies can see better with a crest that isn't so large. Mine are from Welp right now, and are lovely - they are bearded and I prefer bearded. I have had McMurray's silkies too. The larger crests are more beautiful in my opinion though.

 

[Cherterr]

I know what you mean shelly... mine are 5-6 wks right now and look ratty, scraggly etc. I SAW the parents... beautiful birds..
It's just a stage.

Wow.. there's a lot of us with this age Silkies on here.. maybe someone should start a Silkie Pullet thread?

EDIT: I only had one pair of Silkies years ago.. they had one baby.. it disappeared..