How do you keep Silkies in tip top Show quality shape!

[briarpatchfarms]

I need to know how to keep my Silkies looking the best they can be because I plan to show this year!

Right now they are in a 10' x 5' pen with dirt bottom with a little shaving what should I do?

 

[Smoky73]

Your best bet is to keep them off the ground and keep them in wire cages. This protects the foot feathering from breaking. Many people do it, but I do not and I still win at shows. You can keep them running around if your litter is deep and clean. a few months before the show, pull out the broken or damaged feathers.

 

[Shared Acres]

I've heard a lot of people keep theirs in wire cages and never let them touch the ground. I won't and can't do that. I'll be showing for the first time this year.

I figure let them be chickens!

LOL, I don't know if I could pull out the broken feathers either!

 

[briarpatchfarms]

Well the feather pulling wont bother me its just they will be bald on thier leggs LOL! the wire always shreds and breaks my Duccles feathers but how can i get there leg feathers grown out faster and keep them from breaking first show is march something have to look! but its a month away!

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Here is some info I found about getting them ready.

http://www.silkiechickens.com/showing_silkies.htm

 

[jimnjay]

You can keep them on Sand if possibly it is easier on the foot feathering and very easy to keep clean. I put down sand in one of my smaller pens. Most of mine are on grass and it still messes up the feathers but possibly not a much as plain earth.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

They definitely need some sort of bedding, not plain dirt. Most folks use wood shavings but I've heard sand works well, too. Right now I'm trying out rice hulls, and so far I'm liking them.