Partridge Silkies - Nothing else

[pennie1]

Yes dear, you are quite far behind. We have been discussing whether or not you let your show birds outside on grass or keep them in pens and what you feed your birds.
Well, right on schedule... Here I am up at quarter to 2 in the morning babysitting the newborn that just hatched. It's a partridge so right now I have 3 blacks and 5 partridge out of this hatch so far. Of course I am not counting the 4 whites from a different breeding. That's just for the partridge hen from a black pen and a redneck black roo. I can't wait to get the redneck from Connie this fall. I am so, so, so excited.
So, what is your answer to our questions? To cage or not to cage?

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

Cetawin~~I hadn't given that any thought because I don't know what's in Red Cell (I don't use it); sorry pennie; thanks for pointing that out Cetawin

 

[chikincrazee]

Hi...Pennie how exciting some more little ones....Bat Cave... Red Cell is the horse version of Poultry Cell but its actually cheaper and basically the same stuff as the chicken one we use it on the horses to boost the iron content and add extra vit/min.. I have been experimenting with a product called weight builder by Farnam its a granular form of oil so doesnt go rancid in your feed when its hot out...its just hard to figure out how much i should use in the mix as its based on a 1000lb horse......maybe i need to feed mine grass but i do add alfalfa pellets and I am thinking I might use rabbit pellets in the grain mix as its smaller...

 

[SilkieTime]

I'm not happy with a cage just for a show, but I do like the sand a lot and they can have more room. In the winter I do put mine in a cage just for the night with shavings over wire cage and feeders on wood blocks. I only have 3 cages that are 4X12 and two that are 4X6. I guess I need more cages.

 

[pennie1]

Quote:
You and me both. Hopefully I will be able to sell a bunch of these babies at the shows. I think I have 52 birds right now and still have a few more on the way. That's WAY too many for me. I'd like to have about 10 or 12 hens and 4 or 5 different roos. But that's for the partridge. Then I have the greys and am going to be getting some salmon this fall. My 16 x 16 barn is not big enough. Pretty soon I'm going to have to turn the garage into a barn also. And here I have been telling everyone that I just want a small operation. I know there are so many of you with 100's and even 1000's of birds, but I just want to stay small. I don't mind having this many right now as long as I can get rid most of these by winter.

I know when I had my big Production Reds, I never had any problem selling them by winter, so hopefully it goes the same way.

 

[pennie1]

Quote:
I'm finally reaching my breaking point with babies. They are coming out of my ears!!!

I have noticed a huge difference just in the last couple of days in the weight of the birds. Putting them on good quality lawn grass plus that super fortified mixed diet they seem to have gotten noticably heavier overnight! GO BABIES!!! I go to Horse.com to get a lot of the supplements for the chickens. You're totally right about it being cheaper. Huge difference in price.

So how's it going with you and all of your lovelies? How many birds do you have, by the way?

 

[Cetawin]

Bat Cave no problem ... I just grew up with horses and gave one now ai I knew about red cell.

Chikincrazee - there is another great horse product that is for hard keepers and weight gain...a fat supplement called Amplify. Has omega 3s and does a great job with feathers and such. It is pricey but is a pellet, lasts awhile is with checking out. It us made by purina I believe and comes in a 50 lb bag. Several other folks use it too with good results and no spoilage issues as with like and such. I will upload a pic of my grain mix in a sec...I have since added the Amplify for their molting and to help with the resulting weight loss from it with my LF.

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
You and me both. Hopefully I will be able to sell a bunch of these babies at the shows. I think I have 52 birds right now and still have a few more on the way. That's WAY too many for me. I'd like to have about 10 or 12 hens and 4 or 5 different roos. But that's for the partridge. Then I have the greys and am going to be getting some salmon this fall. My 16 x 16 barn is not big enough. Pretty soon I'm going to have to turn the garage into a barn also. And here I have been telling everyone that I just want a small operation. I know there are so many of you with 100's and even 1000's of birds, but I just want to stay small. I don't mind having this many right now as long as I can get rid most of these by winter.

I know when I had my big Production Reds, I never had any problem selling them by winter, so hopefully it goes the same way.

I have a beautiful 30 x 40 barn. 4 Stalls, wash stall, tackroom, & a 10 x 20 storage area. I built this for my horses & ponies. they have a lovely view of it from their field. That is as close to it as they have come in about 5 years. The chickens took it over and haven't looked back since! lol

 

[greenpixies]

Greetings!

I am a total newbie chick-Mom. I have 14 chicks 3 week old. Half are Silkies and two of these are Partridge. They look remarkably like chipmunks to me. Husband and I are thinking of "Chip" and "Dale" for names (I know: not so original). From my research it seems that they change dramatically. When I look at all the gorgeous adult Partridge Silkie photos I see that all the chipmunk striping is gone and they get quite redish.
Can someone tell me when to expect the loss of their stripes?
Also, is it just me or do some of you have trouble telling your chicks/chickens apart? I can see differences, but can't tell them apart. I really hope this will come in time!

Love all your photos!

 

[Brody's Broodello]

Quote:
redneck black? is it from the south?