hatchery silkie babies/

[ARose4Heaven]

I'm fairly certain this has been covered, but I can't find it.

I've raised many chicks from hatcheries, so have some idea of what I'm doing buut...

Are Silkiess different? Never had bantams before.
Do they need a smaller space? Can I brood them with larger chicks? feed, medicated or not?
Are electrolytes mandatory in the water? other additives?
Please just treat me like a newbie here. I want to be prepared when they arrive next week.

I HAVE... medicated chick starter, waterer, heat lamp. stock tamk with large flake pine bedding. am I good to go?

 

[sylviethecochin]

Silkies are pretty large bantams. I've brooded them with bantams and with regulars. They're not really much more delicate than other chickens, provided you have a clean setup and ready source of heat.

As for medicated feed, that's sort of a personal choice. I've had a lot of problems with coccid over the past year, and so I bought medicated. Usually, if I don't see a need for medication, I don't provide it. Electrolytes, too, are unnecessary unless you feel the need. They aren't good for chickens over a long period of time, due to the salt content, but they won't hurt for the first few days.

 

[Ladybird CA]

Yup

Silkies are like big chickens only smaller

But they can't roost. So it is a good thing you are getting more than one so they can keep each other warm.

You can brood them with larger chicks, I just wouldn't order them with them because they can trample them. Also watch to make sure they don't squish the baby silkies- they usually don't if the temperature is warm enough so they don't pile on top of each other.

I didn't add electrolytes or additives when I had silkies and they did fine.

Congrats! Which hatchery, which colours, and how many?

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I feel silly asking questions after having raised so many chiicks before. But I the Silkie FEVER so bad. I am driving my DH nuts!

Ideal Hatchery. Just had a VER BAD EXPERIENCE TRYING TO GET CHICKS FROM A HAYCHERY IN TH COLD STATES. Six assorted Silkies, 2 Salmon Favs and an EE

 

[sylviethecochin]

But they can't roost. So it is a good thing you are getting more than one so they can keep each other warm.

I realise my silkies are rather low-quality (straight combs and the hens a pound heavier than they should be) but most of them do roost, given a place they can reach.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

I'm fairly certain this has been covered, but I can't find it.

I've raised many chicks from hatcheries, so have some idea of what I'm doing buut...

Are Silkiess different? Never had bantams before.
Do they need a smaller space? Can I brood them with larger chicks? feed, medicated or not?
Are electrolytes mandatory in the water? other additives?
Please just treat me like a newbie here. I want to be prepared when they arrive next week.

I HAVE... medicated chick starter, waterer, heat lamp. stock tamk with large flake pine bedding. am I good to go?

I am kinda pleased with myself. I have built a new coop . Moved the run from the old location for fresh untainted ground and better drainage.


more pics scattered around the forum...
Got the brooder set in the heated garage. and today will be getting the hardware cloth ordered from Amazon to encase the chainlink run. DH says to get an electrified perimeter fence too so they can range without fear of neighborhood dogs, etcc.