Just Joined BYC! Could use some guidance on an issue w/ Silkie Chicks!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Hello and Welcome!
You are very thorough in your post!
You could get Aristopet bird mite&lice spray in Australia or something similar to that product where you are... Active ingredient Permethrin. And spray your silkies with that and also the coop. For the flaky/dry legs you could try Vaseline as suggested or oil. I have a little spray bottle I fill up with olive oil and spray my silkies feet/legs if I see any dryness. Quick and easy. But you do have to do it consistently every day till you see results then a week later again - this suffocates the mites.
For the perch situation - how high is it? Silkies don't fly really so make sure its low enough for them to hop up onto. Some silkies do prefer to sleep in a pile together on the floor but all mine perch. They may need to be taught how to roost so just keep placing them up there at roost time and they'll get the idea.
Post some pics of your silkies and we can give you an idea if they are boys or girls. Clear pics of front and sides are especially helpful.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens, the pulse beat of the chicken community.

 

[chrissynemetz]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. Good luck with sorting out your silkie issues.

 

[RebelEgger]

Hello from Nova Scotia and welcome to BYC! You’ve joined a great and resourceful community! Enjoy your journey!
Good luck with your silkies

 

[Chicalina]

Those feather pics just show new growth. What you think are broken feathers are new ones pushing through covered in a waxy shaft. The flaky bits are the dander from the shaft as it breaks up. The feet look dry but not mitey to me.

It will do them no harm to treat for mites and oil their feet though, just in case.

At 14 weeks, I think they are just growing their adult feathers, losing some baby feathers and their bodies have grown too, which can make the feathers look sparse. Basically, all chickens go through an ugly duckling teenage phase, and because silkies mature slowly they are probably doing it now. The boys will be getting some male feathers now ish too. Slightly coarser hackles, crest streamers and longer tails. These can look messy at first.

I've got 12 week olds and if I part their feathers they are growing new ones underneath. Some baby feathers are being lost but its not a real big moult.

Yours are fine. Perfectly normal

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUN-omenal Flock!

Pull up a roost & enjoy your time here!

 

[N F C]

Thanks for joining us!

 

[rjohns39]

Hi and welcome to BYC We're so happy you've decided to join us

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Are you certain about the age of your birds ? They almost appear older than stated and look as if they are in a full blown molt.