Just adopted 2 Silkie Chickens! Looking for advice on how to care for them properly

[mandysantagata]

I just adopted 2 silkie chickens they are gorgeous, babies. I dont know much about them at all. Looking for help on how to care for them properly, and house them.They have a coop, that I had already and are inside, and will be on the deck in the day covered & screened in deck, where no one can get to them =) Advice on what they eat, and I read they can have pine in there? I hope so, because its in there! And they are pecking at the floor looking for food. should I sprinkle some in with the pine shavings?
Thanks for any advice!

Mandy

 

[Jenny77]

I feed my adults regular laying crumbles. I have 6 hens and a roo and they have hatched out about 23 chicks. They don't roost, typically. Mine sleep in a pile on the floor of their coop, in a pile with the roo on top. I use straw, but I'm sure shavings is fine.

 

[mandysantagata]

I am sorry what is laying crumble? I have food, that they gave me for them. They look kinda like crumbles. Should I sprinkle some down? Will they eat the pine? I am gonna get some hay for them

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and

! Glad you entered the chicken world! I assume these are chicks, correct? First step: go to a farm and ranch store and buy something called Chick Starter. While you are there pick up a feeder made for chickens - if they eat off the floor they will eat the pine shavings - plus you waste a ton of food. And yes, pine shavings make good bedding. Never use cedar. Also at the farm and ranch pick up a waterer - both the feeder and waterer are cheap if you get them in plastic. Not sure of the age of your chicks or your temps where you live but they may need a heat lamp as well. Lastly, to the link below and read it thoroughly - particularly the part about baby chicks. Good luck to you!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/

 

[Jenny77]

I doubt they'll eat the shavings. You could put their feed in a shallow dish till ya get a feeder. They also like to free range. We had a portable pen for ours till their house was built and fenced. Laying crumbles is a milled feed. Suitable for adult chickens, hens or Roos.

 

[mandysantagata]

Great! Thank you, I have a water dish and a dish for food for them, and a dog pen with a house in it, with pine shavings. They will have free range =) they are in my house, away from any other animals. I got them today and the man said were 3 months? And he wasnt even sure if they were male or female. He gave me 2 bags of food for them. Ill go to the feed store and get some feeders for them. and grit? Should I be getting that too? Oh do you ever wash them? They really are the sweetest things

 

[mandysantagata]

Also what else can they eat? Treats?

 

[redsoxs]

I am sorry what is laying crumble? I have food, that they gave me for them. They look kinda like crumbles. Should I sprinkle some down? Will they eat the pine? I am gonna get some hay for them

Laying crumble is what hens of laying age are fed - but no usually until the eggs start showing up. For chicks, make it a starter.

 

[Jenny77]

Grit is good. They can have a variety of fruits and veggies. There's a list on here of what's good and bad for them. Mine love strawberries and baby spinach.

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Good luck with, and enjoy your birds.