Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[AnneInTheBurbs]

It is done.

I picked up the 5 silkies from someone on Craigslist tonight. He was extremely nice and I think he just wanted to give them a better home. He gave me the cage they were in with waterer included, a huge bag of bedding, and an open bag of food with probably 40 lbs. left in it. The younger silkies are about 20 weeks old. Is that old enough to tell if they are a rooster or not? I ASSumed they were all hens, but I didn't think to ask until now. I will post pics tomorrow after they get a foot soak, at least one had some poo caked on her foot feathers. Any tips for silkies? What have I gotten myself into... Lol.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

crazier than normal looks like this.. and this...scary, right?!

That is a stink eye if I ever saw one!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

@LittleMissPurdy (can't quote again!) Is your dehydrator forced air or radiant heat? We've had both and I absolutely LOVE the forced air one. Not expensive. Just a cheap one from kmart. We used the radish heat one once (got it at a yard sale) and didn't like it. We did pumpkin seeds in the dehydrator last year and they were absolutely amazing! We always food it on the oven before and they just were never great. They may cook a bit but keep your eye on them and pull them out when they're the way you want them we're slicing into the pumpkins probably tomorrow. I can't wait for the seeds!

 

[stake]

Here is little me! I have silkies and call ducks in nw pa!

Howdy from the other end of the state....

 

[LittleMissPurdy]

That is a stink eye if I ever saw one!

the crazy-stink eye!! She looks like that all the time...seriously...like she is on a bender or something

...i have got to get some sleep here..wow!!

@LittleMissPurdy (can't quote again!) Is your dehydrator forced air or radiant heat? We've had both and I absolutely LOVE the forced air one. Not expensive. Just a cheap one from kmart. We used the radish heat one once (got it at a yard sale) and didn't like it. We did pumpkin seeds in the dehydrator last year and they were absolutely amazing! We always food it on the oven before and they just were never great. They may cook a bit but keep your eye on them and pull them out when they're the way you want them

we're slicing into the pumpkins probably tomorrow. I can't wait for the seeds!

I was trying to dry them out for planting..hahahaha..not eating..yet..hahaha...i save seeds from year to year...and also eat the pumpkin seeds

...
I have a forced air one..it is a "Nesco american harvest food dehydrator"...have only just used it for herbs, works well with those...am curious to see how it does with "foods"....
I will get a pic or two as i dry things...

 

[dheltzel]

It is done.

I picked up the 5 silkies from someone on Craigslist tonight. He was extremely nice and I think he just wanted to give them a better home. He gave me the cage they were in with waterer included, a huge bag of bedding, and an open bag of food with probably 40 lbs. left in it. The younger silkies are about 20 weeks old. Is that old enough to tell if they are a rooster or not? I ASSumed they were all hens, but I didn't think to ask until now. I will post pics tomorrow after they get a foot soak, at least one had some poo caked on her foot feathers. Any tips for silkies? What have I gotten myself into... Lol.

What do you want to know about silkies? They are usually the sweetest mannered of all chickens, occasionally a cock turns people aggressive. Not rainproof at all, keep them always under cover, not always real bright about how to get out of the rain, or away from predators. They can't fly, so they roost on the ground or someplace they can jump onto.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

What do you want to know about silkies? They are usually the sweetest mannered of all chickens, occasionally a cock turns people aggressive. Not rainproof at all, keep them always under cover, not always real bright about how to get out of the rain, or away from predators. They can't fly, so they roost on the ground or someplace they can jump onto.

How old do they have to be before you call tell if they are a Roo? I am laying in bed awake and tossing and turning hoping I wasnt duped into picking up a Roo. I absolutely can't have one. I will post pics tomorrow as soon as I can to see if somebody can help me determine. The older one is a mix, so I'm not sure if that makes it harder or easier. Thanks, that info helps!

 

[dheltzel]

How old do they have to be before you call tell if they are a Roo? I am laying in bed awake and tossing and turning hoping I wasnt duped into picking up a Roo. I absolutely can't have one. I will post pics tomorrow as soon as I can to see if somebody can help me determine. The older one is a mix, so I'm not sure if that makes it harder or easier. Thanks, that info helps!

The walnut comb definitely makes them harder to sex when young. I raised only 1 pair this year and they were definitely sexable at 5 months, maybe earlier. The hen started laying around 6 months.

I find Silkie roos easier to sell (or give away) than other breeds, but that might just be because I don't raise as many. If you can look the other way as to their fate, there is a good market for them in the Asian community because of their black meat.

 

[SilkieSensation]

Silkies are the hardest breed to sex, especially the better quality ones. Often you have to wait for them to crow or lay an egg...which can take up to a year.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

The walnut comb definitely makes them harder to sex when young. I raised only 1 pair this year and they were definitely sexable at 5 months, maybe earlier. The hen started laying around 6 months.

I find Silkie roos easier to sell (or give away) than other breeds, but that might just be because I don't raise as many. If you can look the other way as to their fate, there is a good market for them in the Asian community because of their black meat.

Silkies are the hardest breed to sex, especially the better quality ones. Often you have to wait for them to crow or lay an egg...which can take up to a year.

Thanks guys! Sorry to be a thread hog, but here are the first pictures. Disregard the picture quality, but you know how it is! Keep in mind they are quite dirty and will get a bath when the sun comes out tomorrow. Notice my big girls in the back round circling. I just got an email back from the previous owner. He thinks the larger brown buff one might be a Roo. The bigger black mix is definitely not as she crouched for me when I picked her up this morning.