Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[HugginsFarm]

I'm looking to buy Partridge chicks or hatching eggs if anyone has any!

 

[Oscarorpington]

these are the parents chicknmamma

 

[Sylvester017]

Yep, Watson and his brother will both be there. The girls will be there also. The Watson boys have a long way to go before they are ready. They are taking forever to really fill out. They are big boys and have a long way to go. I do love them though. I was reading through the standard and their colors are right on so I just have to hope they fill out.
I have a question. Would it be a good idea to confine them more to help them fill out? I have been keeping everyone together but maybe I should separate the boys and put them on shavings 24/7 for their foot feathering. I had read somewhere that you can rub some baby oil or even olive oil on their foot feathers to help keep them nice.

To pennie1 - sorry this is a late reaction to this older post but when I read your baby oil/olive oil comment I had to put my 2 cents worth in - Smiles

When I took my Silkie to the vet after she lost some toenails & bleeding (long story) he told me to use vitamin A or vitamin E oil for her legs, toes, comb, earlobes - not vaseline or heavy cooking oil. I found the vitamin E oil the best as it doesn't build up on the feathers like heavier oils that capture dirt & sand that stick to the feathers. I use the E oil after roost time when hen is calm & she loves the massages & I paper towel excess oil so she's not dripping. Put her back to roost & during the night the E oil has a chance to work before she's up in the morning to forage the back yard. And when she dust-bathes the dirt doesn't stick to her toe feathers. Plus my hands are very soft after giving her the leg massages.

 

[Lacey1988]

I was told my little Incy is a partridge so I seen this thread and said might as well.




Everything is cute about him except that comb.

 

[ChickNmamma]

these are the parents chicknmamma

Both of your birds appear either Black or Blue, not Silver Partridge. Silver Partridge will have light silvery necks and patterning on their wings. Pretty birds. If they are Blue you will get Blue, Black or Splash. If they are Blue/Black you will get Blue or Black. If they are Black.. well.. just Black.

 

[flocknfoal]

I've seen several references on this thread and a couple of other threads that seem to insinuate some of the patterns on silkie partridge chicks can give clues to whether the chick might be male or female. Can anyone explain this? Are there certain patterns that are more or less likely to show up based on gender? Why?

Any guesses as to whether the little silver partridge below is male or female based on pattern?

@ 2 days old:


At 2 weeks old - the red light makes the color off, but it's still the same silver/gray color above. And it was 'adopted by this mama - not related to her or the white chick.

 

[chick rookie]

my first 2. never had silkies before now. can anyone tell me if they are male or female??? I'm not having much luck taming them down much, anyone have any hints I could use?

 

[Fancychooklady]

my first 2. never had silkies before now. can anyone tell me if they are male or female??? I'm not having much luck taming them down much, anyone have any hints I could use?

It's a little too early to sex them with any certainty. I have a seat in the run and I sit quietly with treats. Let them wonder around your feet. I encourage them to eat from my hand by simply putting my hand on the ground and waiting for their curiousity get the better of them.

 

[chick rookie]

It's a little too early to sex them with any certainty. I have a seat in the run and I sit quietly with treats. Let them wonder around your feet. I encourage them to eat from my hand by simply putting my hand on the ground and waiting for their curiousity get the better of them.

this is 5 weeks today, what age would be better? with all that feathering on the head I cant tell at all.
would it be too soon to try meal worms, live ones in my hand.? I have them in the house, way too cold for them outside, but I do put them on the floor in the dinning room and let them run around, when they are in the cage they will come to the side and watch me when I'm in the room, with their heads tilted but if I try to pick them up or just put my hand in they go nuts and run away peeping up a storm. Will try sitting on floor with them.

 

[Fancychooklady]

this is 5 weeks today, what age would be better? with all that feathering on the head I cant tell at all. 
would it be too soon to try meal worms, live ones in my hand.? I have them in the house, way too cold for them outside, but I do put  them on the floor in the dinning room and let them run around, when they are in  the cage they will come to the side and watch me when I'm in the room, with their heads tilted but if I try to pick them up or just put my hand in they go nuts and run away peeping up a storm. Will try sitting on floor with them. 

Usually around 12 weeks . You need to get some good ' head ' shots. Watch for waddles and more pronounced comb. Now if I were to take a guess, I'd say # 1 is a roo and# 2 a hen, but that is just a guess. Sitting on the floor is a good place to start. As with most creatures , you are far less intimidating if you are not towering over them. Mine don't mind walking over my feet and sitting with me. I get them used to my hand by giving treats , hand open and touch their underbelly
Until I can pick them up from underneath, as apposed to clenching hands around them. I have one that ' presents ' to me when I stand over her.