Hi

[EddieBee]

Good morning all

I am Eddie, 60 years old and live in Cambridgeshire.

Im new to this chicken business so will probably be asking all sorts of silly questions! I have just taken on three silkies from my step daughter and kids because she cant keep them any more. They are beautiful. I didnt realise keeping chickens could be so addictive. I am already thinking that I might like some of the other breeds. But that is for the future when I am used to the girls that I have. Well, we got the girls on Saturday afternoon. they were called after the girls from Frozen but I had to rename them im afraid! So I have Charlotte (named after our grand daughter who is naughty and who owned her) She is the feisty one that is first out and also lays every day. She is a rusty colour and stunning. Next is the bossy one, a dark copper with stunning plumage, broody due to the move. And last but not least is Harriette mid colour copper and broody like her sister. I have to physically put those two out several times a day! Other wise they just steal Charlottes egg and take it in turns to sit on it! Naughty girls!

I would appreciate any tips on feeding.........what they should and shouldnt eat. Is corn essential in their diet?
How high do they fly? they have never tried to get out of Lous garden when she had then but I am worried in case they get over the smaller fence between myself and next door. I have put a wicker fence up so am hoping that will deter them. Helga flew on to the top of the coup but then back into the run.

Well thats it for now. I am off out to see my girls again and put the two broody ones out!

Catch you all later.

EddieBee

 

[duluthralphie]

Welcome to BYC

Explore the learning center and search for "silkie" it might give you some help. Sorry I can't I have no silkies.

If they are truly broody, which it sounds they are. Unless you have roosters or fertile eggs you want to hatch, you might want to put them in small bare cages to break the broodiness. My last one took 3 days, just water and very little food. no nest and no eggs to sit on. Really a bare cage.

Good luck,,and Welcome

 

[duluthralphie]

Oh and I understand changing the names!! My granddaughters are Elsa and Anna everything.........

 

[ChickenGrass]

I'm glad you joined the flock
Now as for your questions
I feed all my laying hens,laying ducks,breeding and showing stock
Layers pellets and greens cabbage,lettuce etc.
Silkies shouldn't be able to fly
Because silkies have no barbicels to hold there
Feathers together(that's why they look fluffy)
Even though they can't fly they can jump pretty high
Try to give your silkies shelter and some dryer ground
Because there feathers are fluffy and when they get wet
They look pretty ugly
And because they have feathers on there feet allow them for some
Dry ground.if there feathers in there feet get wet they stick
Together and can get matted
Hope this helps and happy hen keeping :cd

 

[drumstick diva]

You can also post questions on the "Silkie thread."

 

[N F C]

Hi Eddie,

Hope you are enjoying your flock. Be sparing on the corn, it should be given as a treat (90% of their diet should be a balanced nutritionally complete feed).

Nice to have you here!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[ninjawesome]

Welcome to BYC! Hope you find this site helpful!

 

[Hholly]

Hi Eddie! Silkies are the best! Hope you have fun here on the forum.

 

[Frindizzle]

Welcome to BYC!

Glad you joined the flock!