Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[BuckNBark Farm]

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?

Lots of people tame them with treats, and hold them awhile.. Mine love bean sprouts. They will gladly take them, then run away the next time (for me, anyway) My boys seem to calm down sooner. But, my pullets don't really get super lovey/dovey until that are laying age for me. Before that, they don't run away, but they wiggle and squirm a lot more before they are laying. Might ruffle a few feathers, but I don't expect too much of them until then, so I don't sweat it much.

-Pam oh- also, when the weather is nice, and they are fully feathered, I will take them out during the day to a little rabbit hutch to get some fresh air. The more I carry them back and forth, the tamer they get. (That works GREAT for Polish, by the way)

Pam Pittman

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Chickens are geared for flight if anything comes at them from above. Your hand descends, and instinct says *H*A*W*K*!!!! Instead, move your hand in low, as close to the ground as possible. Also, hold them in a manner in which they feel secure, which basically means use a showmanship hold. Spread your fingers wide and with your hand facing upwards surround their legs with your fingers and place your plm against their belly. Let the belly rest in your palm, and grasp their legs with your tightened, surrounding fingers. Place your other hand over their back, gently holding their wings to their body. Once they relax--and you CAN feel it--gently stroke their back, under their chin, on the back of their neck and atop their head--keep doing whichever seems to make that individual bird happiest.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Chickens are geared for flight if anything comes at them from above.  Your hand descends, and instinct says *H*A*W*K*!!!!  Instead, move your hand in low, as close to the ground as possible.  Also, hold them in a manner in which they feel secure, which basically means use a showmanship hold.  Spread your fingers wide and with your hand facing upwards surround their legs with your fingers and place your plm against their belly.  Let the belly rest in your palm, and grasp their legs with your tightened, surrounding  fingers.  Place your other hand over their back, gently holding their wings to their body. Once they relax--and you CAN feel it--gently stroke their back, under their chin, on the back of their neck and atop their head--keep doing whichever seems to make that individual bird happiest.

Thank you , you explained it much better than I did.

 

[chick rookie]

Lots of people tame them with treats, and hold them awhile.. Mine love bean sprouts. They will gladly take them, then run away the next time (for me, anyway) My boys seem to calm down sooner. But, my pullets don't really get super lovey/dovey until that are laying age for me. Before that, they don't run away, but they wiggle and squirm a lot more before they are laying. Might ruffle a few feathers, but I don't expect too much of them until then, so I don't sweat it much.

-Pam oh- also, when the weather is nice, and they are fully feathered, I will take them out during the day to a little rabbit hutch to get some fresh air. The more I carry them back and forth, the tamer they get. (That works GREAT for Polish, by the way)

Pam Pittman

ok lots of treats and give them time.. thanks, I had DH build me a little covered thing I can move around the yard his spring with no bottom on it so they can play in the grass and find bugs and such.

Chickens are geared for flight if anything comes at them from above. Your hand descends, and instinct says *H*A*W*K*!!!! Instead, move your hand in low, as close to the ground as possible. Also, hold them in a manner in which they feel secure, which basically means use a showmanship hold. Spread your fingers wide and with your hand facing upwards surround their legs with your fingers and place your plm against their belly. Let the belly rest in your palm, and grasp their legs with your tightened, surrounding fingers. Place your other hand over their back, gently holding their wings to their body. Once they relax--and you CAN feel it--gently stroke their back, under their chin, on the back of their neck and atop their head--keep doing whichever seems to make that individual bird happiest.

makes sense, I'll get used to doing that. ty

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.

I hope your right on your guess, I'm new to all this so what do you mean " presents " to you?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Sorry, It means she squats for me as in presenting her self to a roo. Weird I know, but I have a light Sussex that does it too.
Edited to add, try them on a tin of sardines in olive oil, they'll come round.

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Sorry, It means she squats for me as in presenting her self to a roo. Weird I know, but I have a light Sussex that does it too.
Edited to add, try them on a tin of sardines in olive oil, they'll come round.

I have 2 of mine that can be 7 feet away, I say their name, and they squat! lol. They aren't Silkies, tho (Phoenix and Polish). That's when I consider the "egg laying age", is when they start squatting. That's the magic moment for me.

 

[Frizzlefraz]

I just purchased this pullet she's 12 weeks old. I gave her a haircut after this picture. Does anyone else have trouble with their chickens not being able to see?

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

I just purchased this pullet she's 12 weeks old. I gave her a haircut after this picture. Does anyone else have trouble with their chickens not being able to see?

WOW- she is so beautiful!!!!! She's the prettiest partridge pullet OR hen that I've ever seen! I'm at the moment practicing plucking around the eyes (so that I can still show). We'll see how it goes. Good luck! She's gorgeous!
I'm a fan of "moorheads", solid black heads. They remind me of roan horses. -Pam Pittman

 

[Sylvester017]

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.

Fancychooklady - good procedure. I use this w/ any chick breeds I get. Because I'm retired, I get the added joy of having them in-house. Curious little buggers will constantly move about exploring until they take their nap snoozes. If u sit low to the ground they'll jump & climb on u - some breeds will nestle in ur hand to nap briefly before an itch wakes them - new juvie feathers coming in make them itchy a lot - Smiles

 

[Sylvester017]

I just purchased this pullet she's 12 weeks old. I gave her a haircut after this picture. Does anyone else have trouble with their chickens not being able to see?

They are so-o-o beautiful as pullets. Because mine free-range & are not used for showing they aren't as beautiful. My Partridge always manages to have her eyes clear as she doesn't have a full bonnet (hatchery chick rescue). My Black is a beauty w/ a full crest & beard & still sports it but the other hens nibble the area around her eyes - not feather picking per se as none have ever been featherpickers - but in a couple days she gets cleared vision just enough not to get spooked. These flocks seem to know how to take care of each other. I have a Buff Leghorn that knows band-aids aren't normal on my fingers & tries to pick them off if I wear them - never nibbles my skin but tries to remove the band-aid. Enjoy ur gorgeous Partridge, one of the most interesting of varieties of Silkies. Black is my favourite as their new feathers look like Black glistening silk in the light, but Partridge have that beautiful patterning throughout. I like both colors for free-range because White or Splash just doesn't do well after a dust-bathe LOL!