How do silkies walk?

[COOPhilly]

I have a 7 week silkie (among 20 full sized chicks) and she holds her own just fine.

However, I noticed last night she seemed to be limping a bit and today it looks like she's walking more on that whole section of her leg from her feet up to her first joint instead of on her feet.

Is this normal? If not is there anything I can do?

I picked her up and sort of cleaned the stuff gathered in her leg feathers and maybe that made a difference.

I know she can get up off her haunches to reach the food dish if she needs to.

So, am I just being a nervous mom? I've never raised anything this small.

BTW, I keep saying "she" but I have no clue of the sex. Will look through other posts to find out when I can tell.

 

[Bisqit&Gravy]

From my experience of banties and standards, I would seperate her. They are so much bigger that they are probably stepping on her or him and hurt it. The downside if you only have one is it will be lonely:-(

Standards are huge compared to them. I was told and read that standard roosters can hurt hens trying to breed. Which makes sense seeing the size difference.
My silkies are also very docile and my old english game banties who are very sweet to me, are mean to every other breed other than OEG. So therefore my silkies have their own yard along with everyone else

 

[COOPhilly]

I'm only raising her (we call her Baby) for a few more weeks and then she goes to a friend who has six banties so I'm sure it will be ok but I'll keep and eye on her.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Bridgette1221]

So now I have a question.... if I am getting buff orpingtons, silver laced wyandottes or black australorps should I not get a black or blue silkie? I wanted to get 2 of the silkies and 8 of the others (not totally sure which yet). The silkies are on a S/R but the others are pullets... I was thinking the silkies would most likely be male. Will the others hurt them? Also, it is ok to mix breeds like that right? I kinda want a variety.

 

[COOPhilly]

BTW, the Silkie is back up on her feet this morning. Yay!

 

[mylilchix]

Quote:
I have 2 silkies in my brooder right now, and they seem to be holding their own. They get trampled a bit, but so does everyone else. Chicks can be so inconsiderate!! All of the babies are the same age, so growing up together they won't know any different. I actually had a friend put rosecombs who were a few days old in with 2 w/o ameraucanas and they did fine together. I would think they'll be OK, but that's just my 2 cents.

HTH, Sonja

 

[Bisqit&Gravy]

Well, maybe someone else on here will chime in about mixed breeds together whose had them longer than me and can share their story of them.

I guess it depends on the breed? I just don't mix sizes or mix anything in with my old english game banties anymore.
My OEG are sweet to me but mean to anything else. They basically grew up with two mille fluers and then one day decided they didn't like them anymore. The MF's got scapled very badly!! My T-bone(oeg) escaped one day and was taking on Mo my naked neck roo. He has no idea how tiny he is..hahaha
My standard naked neck roo is huge compared to a banty and he's rough with his black australorps hens so I could see him easliy hurting a smaller hen. So they have their own space too.

Well, my silkies have the best place.....my side yard b/c the can't fly. I knew the OEG game would beat them up.