Need some help with my Silkie !

[kellysmall87]

Good evening Anniebee. I am so sorry for your loss - and it is a massive loss, losing any animal. People who care as much as we do to obsess over our pets online can only mean that we do love our animals and want the absolute best for them, whatever that may be. You did the absolute right thing; Birds are fragile things and they get so stressed and depressed so very quickly.

Will you be getting another? X

 

[Anniebee]

Thank you so much Kelly initially for your help, and for your condolences now. It was so very sad, but she went peacefully, firstly sedated - and amazingly, she continued to breathe through her nose at that time. It was the incredible stress and weakness that she was under that caused her to look like she was gasping for air ... as in the sedated state she continued to breathe peacefully. Our Vet said, however - there was absolutely nothing more could be done to bring her back to any kind of health ... she had suffered too much, and gone too far. So she went to sleep. Poor sweet little darling she was too. It was the best and only thing I could do for her.

I have some lovely photographs of her, still in my camera actually - along with other chicken photo's that I haven't downloaded yet, so will be able to do that and put her up on my desktop.

And unfortunately I have to say, no - I will not be having another silkie at this time. Personally, I think they are real pets - and maybe should be kept as a pet ... inside in a large comfy coop at an even temperature, and allowed out in a free range run only under the best of weather conditions and supervision. THAT way I would have one, but we don't have the room at the moment for that to happen. My little Araucana ( Australian ) was most upset but has settled down now, and can see the others through separating wire in the runs. I can't put her in with them, as they bully her badly. She also has taken to snuggling down at night beside the stuffed toy dog I gave her, so that is forever hers now. I am so happy she does that - even though I am also very surprised by her 'adopting' the toy.

As a breeder of silkies yourself, I would imagine you have strict controls over temperature, housing and anything else for the fragility of the breed.

Again, thank you and I hope we can talk again - about happier things next time perhaps ?

Take care,
Anniebee x

 

[kellysmall87]

Aww, yes download those pictures and put one as your avatar then I can see her Ill start following you, so we can keep an eye on what each other posts and chat and things

My silkies have been fine in the same conditions and temperature as my other hardy chickens, but it doesn't really get cold here. I don't know where your location is, but I know some areas of the states go really cold! My silkies are however, the first ones in the coop when it gets colder and darker, and stay out of the rain too. I have crossed some silkies with my Gold Laced wyandotte so hopefully they are more hardy.

Xx

 

[Anniebee]

Hi Kelly ...

Interesting to read how you said it doesn't get really cold where you are - which as I can see, is Wolverhampton in the UK ( the Midlands ? ). From the little knowledge I have, I believe it get's very much colder there ( in winter ) than it does here where we live ... but up in the high country here, it is ultra-cold in winter ( Victoria, Australia ).

At present it is supposed to be Autumn which I think I have mentioned before - and we are now into our 10th day of excessive heat which has broken all written records for any month of the year, specifically March ??? I am talking between 87°F and 103°F every day,. with high temps overnight. NOT at all NICE. I am an Aussie, but loathe the heat. !! Moppitt would not have survived in this relentless heat, considering her weakened state ... it was best she went to a better place. A healthy chicken ( chook ) can survive under these conditions, as long as they have shade and plenty of cool water, plus feed ( including for my girls - cold Jalna yoghurt and cold chopped water melon, plus some seed scratch, and their normal feed available. Moppitt was offered all of this and more. But nothing worked ... and you know the rest.

The breeder of Moppitt, has two remaining silkies - one all black ( rare I believe ) and one white, and they are thriving well. I just think Moppitt was extremely unlucky to have caught the infections she had that ultimately dragged her down so badly.

Must ask - would you ever recommend a person having an indoor silkie - as a pet ( they love being pets and being petted apparently, as Moppitt did most of the time when she was healthy ) ... or would you not recommend that. I can tell you, any silkie kept that way in our home, would be very much spoiled and allowed to really 'be' a pet. I have read where people do keep their chickens indoors as pets - what do you think ?

I can download Moppitt as my avatar - if I can find the way to do it !! Meantime, I will put one of the photographs in here for you to see her. She really was gorgeous.

Interesting cross breeding you have done - to strengthen their immune systems and make them more hardy. I don't know anything about Wyandotte's, but know they are available here.

Anyway, really nice to hear from you again. Cheers, Anniebee.

 

[kellysmall87]

Hi AnnieBee!

Thanks for putting up a picture of Moppitt. She was beautiful (lots prettier than my white silkies!) Such a huge puff on her head!
Yes I live in the Midlands... I always say it's never cold here, but I mean for chickens. I know chickens can withstand really low temps like they have in Canada for instance. So although it feels cold here to us, a chicken can usually stand it well. All my chickens crowd into the one coop too (all 16 in a 4-5 bird coop. Their choice!) So i expect it's to keep warm. A small coop would get really toasty with 16 chickens in it! Chickens withstand cold better than they withstand heat. The lowest its going at the moment is -5c.

As for an indoor chicken, yes some people have them. Some people even rear one to use a litter tray!! So it's worth a go. I suspect you'd have to have it from a chick to do that though, and I have no idea how you would even start litter training it... as you well know, chickens poop everywhere! You could keep a special coop for silkies and add a heat lamp.. that could combat your problem?

Yes, I love breeding unusual breeds. My rooster has polish in him too, which you can really see in the babies. The only thing is, all have proper feathers and not fluff like the silkie hen, so you cant tell they are silkie crosses apart from their 5 toes and black skin.

Nice to hear from you too!! x

 

[LeBlackbird]

Must ask - would you ever recommend a person having an indoor silkie - as a pet ( they love being pets and being petted apparently, as Moppitt did most of the time when she was healthy ) ... or would you not recommend that. I can tell you, any silkie kept that way in our home, would be very much spoiled and allowed to really 'be' a pet. I have read where people do keep their chickens indoors as pets - what do you think ?

Kept one of my silkies, Rory, indoors for a long time

She just recently got booted out. She was very quiet, didn't smell much. She's now a very sweet, easy to work with bird due to constant attention and handling

 

[kellysmall87]

Cute!!! X

 

[LeBlackbird]

Cute!!! X

Thanks!! She's a sweetie!

I love her to death!

 

[Anniebee]

Glad you enjoyed seeing a photo of little Moppitt. And yes - she had a very large mop of fluffy feathers on her head ... she was a very pretty little girl.

Mindy, my Araucana who has been left without her friend, has actually now taken to snuggling at night with the soft dog toy that is in her coop with her. That has surprised and delighted me.

She is a ' water ' lover and never bothers to remove herself to under cover when it rains - AND IT HAS RAINED AT LONG LAST, great downpours. During this summer, I have sprayed their runs lightly with some water to cool things down, and Mindy will actually run through it - like kids do under a hose - delighting in the water. My other 3 girls disappear into their coop as soon as there is a hint of rain, or the light water spray I did. I think I have some weird chickens !!

I have a double tarpaulin over Mindy's coop now, to stop rain getting in - seems to have worked so far.

Take care - and good luck with your breeding of unusual birds.

Cheers,

Anniebee

 

[kellysmall87]

Thanks Anniebee, I've just read your post. Your Mindy sounds like a gem!