- Sep 17, 2008
- 7
- 0
- 7
I am a newby to the world of chickens, but am loving it!
We have 2 (don't know the breed) hens from chicks and have just purchased 2 x 12 week old silkies.
The ones I have had from chicks look great, wonderful colour, feet and faces nice and clear.
What I am a bit concerned about is the Silkies.
I have 1 black and 1 white. The black seems to have some scales on it's feet (they seem drier than the other hens) and it kind of looks like it has dandruff. When I spread it's wings out it has white flakes running along the feathers. I have had a good look at it and it isn't a type of bug or parasite, literally looks like flakes of dandruff - is this age appropriate for silkies? Is it losing fluff/moulting or something normal?
Also the silkies seem to eat A LOT less than the other breed hens I have. Normal?
Also, the nails on the silkies are that long that they are curling over and make the end joint of the toe bend upwards and twist - should I clip them myself? If so, tips would be appreciated.
The silkies came from a breeder and I think I'd like to give them a good clean/wash/going over before I introduce them to the other hens. At the moment they are isolated in a separate cage. How do I wash them? We are in the middle of summer here is Oz so weather is nice and warm. Should I use something medicated to make sure no mites etc are present? The breeder gave me a flyer saying something about coating their feed in vegetable oil to smother mites but not sure.
I appreciate any advice, as I love my chooks but am still learning.
Thanks in advance.
Sim
We have 2 (don't know the breed) hens from chicks and have just purchased 2 x 12 week old silkies.
The ones I have had from chicks look great, wonderful colour, feet and faces nice and clear.
What I am a bit concerned about is the Silkies.
I have 1 black and 1 white. The black seems to have some scales on it's feet (they seem drier than the other hens) and it kind of looks like it has dandruff. When I spread it's wings out it has white flakes running along the feathers. I have had a good look at it and it isn't a type of bug or parasite, literally looks like flakes of dandruff - is this age appropriate for silkies? Is it losing fluff/moulting or something normal?
Also the silkies seem to eat A LOT less than the other breed hens I have. Normal?
Also, the nails on the silkies are that long that they are curling over and make the end joint of the toe bend upwards and twist - should I clip them myself? If so, tips would be appreciated.
The silkies came from a breeder and I think I'd like to give them a good clean/wash/going over before I introduce them to the other hens. At the moment they are isolated in a separate cage. How do I wash them? We are in the middle of summer here is Oz so weather is nice and warm. Should I use something medicated to make sure no mites etc are present? The breeder gave me a flyer saying something about coating their feed in vegetable oil to smother mites but not sure.
I appreciate any advice, as I love my chooks but am still learning.
Thanks in advance.
Sim