Jumping back down the rabbit hole!

[BuckeyeFoodie]

Hi everyone! I'm Ashley from Columbus, OH!

My chickens (arriving from Murray McMurray on June 2-ish, unless I grab a few from the feed store before that) won't exactly be backyard chickens in the conventional sense: I will be putting the coop on my family's horse farm back to good use! We had chickens on the farm for about ten years, with around 70 at our highest count, but our last two passed away of old age last summer. As I wasn't the main caretaker (beyond re-filling feeders and checking waterers) at the time, I'm looking to learn as much as I can for my somewhat soon-to-arrive chicks!

I've ordered all Bantams, but plan on picking up a few full-size Araucana hens as well. It's going to take me a little bit to get our coop and runs (sadly not safe to truly free-range due to coyotes and a few horses that enjoy chasing small critters) back in tip-top shape, but most of our old equipment is still there.

I will however need some help with the Silkies - what is the best and safest way to enable them to get up to perches? Should I build a ramp, or just give them ground-level nesting boxes and hope for the best?

Any help you could give me would be fabulous!

Thanks,

Ash

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Welcome to BYC!!!

Glad you joined us!!

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, Buckeyefoodie, and

! Great to have you with us! I know nothing of silkies so I'll just say good luck and best wishes.

 

[Kevin565]

 

[drumstick diva]

as far as I know silkies don't roost - because of their crests they don't see well - they usually pile up on the floor in a corner. My friend said hers never fly but they can jump up when they feel like it. They are very susceptible to predator attacks. If you don't plan to show them you can trim their crests to uncover their eyes. Some will allow you to pull their crests back with bow

 

[missnu01]

I have a silkie rooster that roosts in the rafters about 6 ft off the ground just like everyone else...he is also very good at running, flapping and evading. Show silkies have a hard time..hatchery silkies are more utilitarian I guess. This silkie was somebody's craigslist cast off...the lady couldn't have roosters so he had to go, and I got him...anyway he is just like any of the other chickens, only different looking.

 

[drumstick diva]

missnu is your rooster a bearded silkie? The non bearded ones don't have their vision hampered by fluff - you can actually see their eyes.

 

[sumi]

Hello and welcome to BYC

Glad you joined us!