NY chicken lover!!!!

[Aria]

What is the obsession over sillies? They are small and not great layers from what I have read. Other than a therapy animal they seem to serve no purpose. Just curious, I'm not judging silkie owners hack I have a midget dog.

We had Call Ducks (small show ducks) and we went away one weekend
and when we returned ...they were gone.

Our friend who had Silkie Chickens ask us if we would like to have Buff Silkies.
YES, Love at first sight. They are adorable, soft, and friendly. We get our
supply of eggs for our family and we never have had problems with them.
They are healthy and playful, so soft.

We do love our Silkies. Now we have Buff, Blue, Splash, Gray. Regards, Aria

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Silkies are hilarious. At one point, we had three silkie roosters (rotten luck...wanted hens) and watching them "battle" one another was a riot. Like a pair of Tribbles fluffing around at one another.

Every so often, the one remaining silkie boy we have, he attempts to mate with one of the big girls. But always, he is chased off. It's hilarious! He has a little Napoleon complex.

The main reason I have a breeding trio is because I want them to hatch eggs for me. They are well known for their broodiness.

I will also add...for such a small bird, my silkies have a good amount of meat on them! They are pretty stout! Alas, my husband refuses to eat them. He is turned off by the dark meat. I don't know why. But this is the same guy who won't drink milk during a meal where he's eating burgers. Because both are from the same animal and "that's just wrong!" Gotta love 'em!



Ok...I'm attaching a couple of pictures of Gywneth Fowltrou, my silkie/sebright cross. I mentioned before that she had the blue silkie ears but while taking her pictures, I realized that I was mistaken. I could have sworn she did though. Oh well!





Gywenth's mom, Princess Layer. (Ok...we have corny chicken names...so slay me!)

 

[Sweetpea3829]

Now....on to Sickie Chick. I got some pictures of her today. And then, I realized that her scales are pretty much falling off. So I did some googling and came up with scaly leg mites. So she's had this for some time now...couple of weeks at least. Why haven't my other birds gotten it yet?

I'm going to try the gasoline dunk method (unless anybody here wants to talk me out of it and tell me why NOT to do it) that I found on The Chicken Chick.

Do I hedge my chances and just treat her, and hope that the others are fine? Or go all out...treat the entire flock (UGH) AND completely gut the shavings out of the coop and start over?

I REALLY don't want to do the above. If it were summer...sure. But while we are having a mild winter...the prospect of cleaning out that entire coop is not appealing.

Thoughts?

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Afternoon all. Just read through 5 pages. And so

Sweatpea....gotta do everyone and clean out and spray/dust the coop. Have to kill the cooties and all the hiding spots they are in.

Silkies are great birds with good personalities and easy to handle. Mine lay eggs well and consistantly. I have one hen who is a hatching machine ! She would hatch year round if I let her.

My layers are up and down as well. They had a hard molt and are staring to pick up again. What I do notice is the eggs got way bigger. My reds are laying machines when in full production. Duke is looking better after molting. He is a mature cock now and the best one I have ever had. He will not be eaten.

No snow means everyone gets out to freerange when I'm off or Dh is home. Takes the stress off of being cooped up all the time. It's 56 here today, the last day of january. Crazy!

Time to go bake my squash and make muffins. Have a good week everyone!

 

[Gramma Chick]

Now....on to Sickie Chick. I got some pictures of her today. And then, I realized that her scales are pretty much falling off. So I did some googling and came up with scaly leg mites. So she's had this for some time now...couple of weeks at least. Why haven't my other birds gotten it yet?

They may have it ...it may not be as advanced ...
Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) use on mite scales to suffocate mites out and soften the scales down.
you can also put it on the roosts ...be careful you can get slivers easily

From my chicken file
MITES LICE & FLEAS -
Scale Mites - Nu-Stock and it took one treatment and the mites never returned...

Also, this list is a light general reference and not a comprehensive guide to the medicinal needs of chickens.
I recommend having sterile gloves (nitrile or latex) for handling wounds and medications.
Treat birds directly using any of the following methods along with disinfecting the coop. Eliminate any bedding that may be infested and clean the coop thoroughly.
Oxine without activator! Use to clean coop surfaces after pest infestations such as mites and lice. Add to water to discourage slime growth. Can be used with activator to thoroughly disinfect EMPTY animal houses (do NOT use activated Oxine around animals). See this link for more.
Sevin Dust use 5%, not 10%. place body of chicken in a plastic bag with the head sticking out of the bag. Do not put a chickens head in a plastic bag!! Add Seven Dust, hold bag closed at neck, and shake gently to coat bird with powder.
Petroleum Jelly (Vaseline) use on mite scales to suffocate mites out and soften the scales down.
Eprinex ivomec pour mange mites, lice, and horn flies but only as a last resort if other treatments prove ineffective. Widespread use of Eprinex causes resistance in worms to this and other dewormers in the same class (including Ivermectin), making them less effective as a dewormer and putting your flock at risk should you encounter a worm infestation. If you do find you need to use it, put between shoulders much like flea treatments on cats. Only recommended for adults (may be too strong for chicks).
* Some have recommended Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth ( DE ) Powder as a treatment for existing infestation and in bedding to prevent infestation. However, there is some debate over its effectiveness and some concern over the respiratory effects. DE contains breathable coarse dust that can scar the lungs. Please research DE if you wish to consider using it.
Some reports indicate that the incidence of mites is more prevalent with the use of wooden roosts. Consider using another material for your roosts if your flock suffers recurring infestation.

 

[boskelli1571]

Now....on to Sickie Chick. I got some pictures of her today. And then, I realized that her scales are pretty much falling off. So I did some googling and came up with scaly leg mites. So she's had this for some time now...couple of weeks at least. Why haven't my other birds gotten it yet?

I'm going to try the gasoline dunk method (unless anybody here wants to talk me out of it and tell me why NOT to do it) that I found on The Chicken Chick.

Do I hedge my chances and just treat her, and hope that the others are fine? Or go all out...treat the entire flock (UGH) AND completely gut the shavings out of the coop and start over?

I REALLY don't want to do the above. If it were summer...sure. But while we are having a mild winter...the prospect of cleaning out that entire coop is not appealing.

Thoughts?

Gasoline is painful for the bird. You will likely have better luck smothering them with Vaseline jelly. You need to apply daily after washing the old stuff off. I believe the Chicken Chick posted it to be 'all inclusive' of methods - she didn't recommend it.

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, the gasoline method is just a bad idea. It's not good for the bird at all. Besides the fact that you'd literally be dousing the poor thing in gasoline, birds also have sensitive respiratory systems and the gas fumes could cause lung damage and may even be fatal. Vaseline is a much better solution. If you don't like the idea of having to do that every day, pick up Eprinex and hit all your birds with that. It kills blood sucking parasites and is effective on scaly leg mites.

By the way, I'm not sure that scaly leg mites is what it is. They cause raised scales and scale loss, but not like that. That looks swollen, as if there is some type of infection, and the other foot doesn't look bad at all, which would be very unusual if the damage to her foot was caused by mites. I'd expect the other foot to have way more damage. That, and you said that your other birds have no signs. It takes way longer for scaly leg mites to get to that level of damage than a few weeks, too.

I think it's more likely that it's bumblefoot that hasn't come to a head yet and the black scab just hasn't formed. Try soaking the foot in Epsom salts. They draw everything out and can bring it to a head. You could also try the tricide neo treatment method. Judging from the red spot on the top, I think it's starting to come to a head there. Bumble doesn't always come to a head on the bottom of the foot pad.

 

[rancher hicks]

What is the obsession over sillies? They are small and not great layers from what I have read. Other than a therapy animal they seem to serve no purpose. Just curious, I'm not judging silkie owners hack I have a midget dog.

Several things. I breed them, although not currently (I need to update my signature). They're very friendly - people call them lap chickens. Although not great layers, they do produce eggs larger than most bantam breeds. Their legs are heavily feathered, so they can't do as much damage to your yard and garden, which is appealing to some people. They are fibromelanistic, and supposedly that means their meat is better for you. The meat is considered a delicacy in Asian cultures. They are docile, great for people who want pets or kids to use for 4H. Their unusual look makes them great as an ornamental bird, if someone is looking for a bird that's more a pet or yard candy than a layer. And they are hands down the best breed for brooding. A silkie will be a great mother and will hatch you batch after batch of chicks.

Broodiness is the main reason that I've read about. I had silkies and I see no practical reason other than that. They can't be counted on for food. Eggs or meat.

My rooster crowed more than my big birds. Bantams IMO are big crowers.

They need more attentions as their boots get dirty and they don't roost. Chickens poop where they roost. Too many folks talk of needing heat for them.

I don't know anyone who eats them.

So if you are keeping chickens for meat and eggs, silkies are not the breed. They are luxury birds. I personally don't have the time nor money to spend on them

MORE important than that? They are aliens here to take over the planet. If you are around them Chicken girl make sure you wear a tinfoil hat. They can read your mind. That's probably why the ones I had were not friendly but aggressive toward me. Or maybe it was cuz they didn't like me using them to dust the furniture.

I sold them and the guy who bought them paid twice what I asked after he got near them. It was really weird. They trick people into paying more than they are worth. I think this new Planet 9 is their home planet. I think the way things are going in this world they are getting ready to make their move and invade us.

I blame them for this rap music. I think it's some kind of code music.

Beware of silkies.

 

[rancher hicks]

Yes, the gasoline method is just a bad idea. It's not good for the bird at all. Besides the fact that you'd literally be dousing the poor thing in gasoline, birds also have sensitive respiratory systems and the gas fumes could cause lung damage and may even be fatal. Vaseline is a much better solution. If you don't like the idea of having to do that every day, pick up Eprinex and hit all your birds with that. It kills blood sucking parasites and is effective on scaly leg mites.

By the way, I'm not sure that scaly leg mites is what it is. They cause raised scales and scale loss, but not like that. That looks swollen, as if there is some type of infection, and the other foot doesn't look bad at all, which would be very unusual if the damage to her foot was caused by mites. I'd expect the other foot to have way more damage. That, and you said that your other birds have no signs. It takes way longer for scaly leg mites to get to that level of damage than a few weeks, too.

I think it's more likely that it's bumblefoot that hasn't come to a head yet and the black scab just hasn't formed. Try soaking the foot in Epsom salts. They draw everything out and can bring it to a head. You could also try the tricide neo treatment method. Judging from the red spot on the top, I think it's starting to come to a head there. Bumble doesn't always come to a head on the bottom of the foot pad.

There is a specific product for leg mites. It looks to me as if the infestation is extreme and there may be an infections as well. Vaseline or Bag Balm is a great preventative for mites. You can even smear it on the roosts and should.

As for cleaning the coop this time of year. I was afraid we wouldn't get a January thaw. I think it's natures way of giving us a chance to spruce things up a bit. I just cleaned all the worst of the poop out and added more dry shavings. It gets very damp underneath and you have to keep things dry.

The gasoline idea is not good. Kind a like what I read about squirting kerosine down their nostrils for colds. Its one of those ignorant things farmers used to do.

 

[Beer can]

The silkies I got from TSC grew fast laid early and laid great. Very friendly birds, I don't make friends with my birds or coddle them, none like me, except the silkies. I can pick them up when ever I want, they will follow me around. The roo was over six lbs live weight.
There is large breed silkies but I don't think they have ever been imported to the US.
the reason I got them, black meat .
Regular little show quality poor laying silkies, don't know what good they are, except for show, pets and broodies. Orientals consider them food medicine.