Raising Silkies...please provide your knowledge!

[klugshorses]

Thanks everyone for the great info, does any on have any good ideas on nesting? Also on dust boxes? I heard that silkies need grass year around and if you can't do that feed them cabbage is that true?

 

[Carol.in.WV]

A few things I've tried that the silkies seem to like are: using a black plastic tub designed for mixing concrete and then half filled with play sand as a roost. I put it on top of some other tubs so that its about 2-3' off ground level and the silkies have another tub to hop on to get up too it. They perch on the edge and poop in the sand which is easily cleaned out with a kitty litter scoop. Some will also lay eggs in the sand or sleep there but most hang on the edge. The sand provides enough weight so the birds don't tip the tub over. For nesting I give them a plastic tub filled with shavings .....I would use straw but it's not readily available here. They like the darkness to lay eggs in. I also use it for broody hens as well as a cheap plastic dishpan filled with sawdust. Sometimes I use a 12x12 square box with shavings for a nest for broodys....the advantage of both the box and tubs is if your broody should get mites (and in my experience it was the broodys that got them first) you can burn the box with shavings or the contents of the dishpan or tub and sterilize it easily with bleach.

For dusting a big low tub such as the black ones sold in hardware stores seems about the right size. Again you could use play sand and put some DE in it. I made the mistake once of just giving them DE for a dust bath and the dust is incredible, gets into everything.

 

[suebee]

My silkies don't roost. The jump up on a hay bale and roost on a low shelf. Feed is the same, chick starter, then layer. Mine love the rain but hate snow. Depending on how large their crest is, I normally trim around the eyes so they can see. Mine all free range.

 

[featherbaby]

I provide Oyster shell grit in a separate cup for them to get as they want it. If yours are babies, make sure the grit is small. Manna pro makes a chick grit that works well. Also the 20% feed I use is Manna pro Gamebird/showbird. I get it at Tractor Supply. I don't feed it all the time. Usually I use 18% Layer Pellets with some Manna Pro "Calf Manna" mixed in which boosts the protein at a much more reasonable price. Call around in your area and see who carries the Manna Pro brand if you don't have a Tractor Supply nearby.

I personally wouldn't use a mixture that had cracked corn mixed in. Their basic nutrition needs will not be met, and the manufacturers put it in because it's cheap and increases the weight of the product. I'm sure it's appropriate for some animals, but I feed "scratch and grains" to mine only as a treat and in moderation. They won't thrive on a steady diet of corn.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Thanks for the info...what brand of feed do you feed, right now because this is what my ducks/big chickens get is cracked corn mixed with a layers mix, but was looking to see if something would be better for them. Also what do you give them for grit? where do you put it, does it matter? Any info is appreciated!

I use Dumor. I get it at Tractor Supply.

I also give them some lay mash once in a while that I get from our local feed mill, and they get whole corn as a treat. I throw it on the ground for them. I give them oyster shell, just sprinkled on top of their feed.

As far as nests, I just put lots of shavings in the corner of their coop and they all lay there.

 

[kfchickenlady]

Carol.in.WV :

A few things I've tried that the silkies seem to like are: using a black plastic tub designed for mixing concrete and then half filled with play sand as a roost. I put it on top of some other tubs so that its about 2-3' off ground level and the silkies have another tub to hop on to get up too it. They perch on the edge and poop in the sand which is easily cleaned out with a kitty litter scoop. Some will also lay eggs in the sand or sleep there but most hang on the edge. The sand provides enough weight so the birds don't tip the tub over. For nesting I give them a plastic tub filled with shavings .....I would use straw but it's not readily available here. They like the darkness to lay eggs in. I also use it for broody hens as well as a cheap plastic dishpan filled with sawdust. Sometimes I use a 12x12 square box with shavings for a nest for broodys....the advantage of both the box and tubs is if your broody should get mites (and in my experience it was the broodys that got them first) you can burn the box with shavings or the contents of the dishpan or tub and sterilize it easily with bleach.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/44307_451102.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/44307_003.jpg

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/44307_451101.jpg

For dusting a big low tub such as the black ones sold in hardware stores seems about the right size. Again you could use play sand and put some DE in it. I made the mistake once of just giving them DE for a dust bath and the dust is incredible, gets into everything.

great ideas! love the pics...hoping for a broody!​

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
Thanks for the info...what brand of feed do you feed, right now because this is what my ducks/big chickens get is cracked corn mixed with a layers mix, but was looking to see if something would be better for them. Also what do you give them for grit? where do you put it, does it matter? Any info is appreciated!

I use Dumor. I get it at Tractor Supply.

I also give them some lay mash once in a while that I get from our local feed mill, and they get whole corn as a treat. I throw it on the ground for them. I give them oyster shell, just sprinkled on top of their feed.

As far as nests, I just put lots of shavings in the corner of their coop and they all lay there.

The Dumor at our TSC is medicated, with 2 kinds of medication, so I have to use 19% poultry feed, with BOSS and Calf Manna sprinkled on top for more fat/protein. Plus fruit and veggies/grass/alfalfa for treats. We will see how this works.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
I use Dumor. I get it at Tractor Supply.

I also give them some lay mash once in a while that I get from our local feed mill, and they get whole corn as a treat. I throw it on the ground for them. I give them oyster shell, just sprinkled on top of their feed.

As far as nests, I just put lots of shavings in the corner of their coop and they all lay there.

The Dumor at our TSC is medicated, with 2 kinds of medication, so I have to use 19% poultry feed, with BOSS and Calf Manna sprinkled on top for more fat/protein. Plus fruit and veggies/grass/alfalfa for treats. We will see how this works.

The kind at our TSC isn't medicated. Does your feed list it on the feed tag? Just wondering, cause our feed tags don't say anything about medication.

 

[emvickrey]

I use Dumor brand. I feed chick starter till they get their feathers then I mix the starter with scratch grains. When they're about 4 months old Ijust feed the scratch grains and give them vegetables and fruits and what ever I have from table scraps that isn't greasy or spicy. I make a mixture about once a month that has cooked rice, tuna, crushed egg shells, apple sauce, crushed oyster shell and a green canned or frozen vegetable oatmeal. I don't feed carrots because I was told it will change the color in white birds. I don't give any citric fruits and I drain the liquid off of the tuna, rice and canned veggies. I've used applesauce alot because they seem to really like it. I make a gallon bucket full of the mixture and I drop in in their run by spoonfuls. Idon't put more than what they will eat in a day to avoid drawing flies.

When we do yard work and find worms we toss them in. They love them. Go to the bait shop and get cricket and toss them in. It's great entertainment. I give mine left over cornbread. The juveniles get to free rance usually a couple hours a day because they have no run on their pen. They have a concrete floor covered in wood shavings. I don't leave them out long to avoid a hawk stealing any or the bobcat that lurks around here.

I give electrolytes when it's the very hot summer months and only vitamins when I have a chick thats not as strong as it should be. When the pullets start to lay I add layer crumbles to scratch grains. I use mostly metal pans for the food and I put a 1 gallon bucket of layer crumbles to a quart of scratch grains. I'll toss a couple of handfuls of scratch grains in the run when it's dry weather to give them something to peck at and scratch around for. I put grass shavings in their runs when we cut the grass. I also keep oyster shell in a separate dish for the broody's and in the main food dish.

I also check their feet for injuries and dirt that has collected on their nails and feathers. On the breeders I trim the feathers on their fanny and lower around the vent. I've never trimmed the feathers around their eyes but I do have one that I need to do that to. She will get up on the nesting shelf but won't get back down. Probably because she can't see well enough to get back down.

As far as nesting, they kind of pick what they want to use. I put different things such as a box or a plastic tub that doesn't have tall sides, bins and baskets. I have nesting shelves too. I put wood shavings in them and they pick what they want. I remove what they don't want. Some just prefer the ground. they will kick out what shavings they don't want. In one pen they use the shelf, another pen they use the ground, another pen they use a plastic tub and my bantys prefer the bin. My house chicken prefers a basket.

My first silkies I got last year started laying at 6 and 7 months old. They started laying in the fall and went broody soon after and stayed that way all winter. I have 2 hens now that are broody for their first time and they are a year old. My house chicken went broody when spring hit and I gave her some eggs and she now has babies. I've given her a couple more chicks and she takes care of them as if she hatched them. She would never defend herself but she sure defends those chicks even against me. And i'm her cuddle buddy.

For me, sexing a silkie is very hard to do. My first ones I had to wait to see who laid an egg before I knew which where girls. Now I go by their crest feathers, if that still has me stumped I wait till they lay eggs. If they crow I know it's a boy.

This site is very helpful and you should learn alot. I am no pro when it comes to silkies but there are things I do know because I learned them form this site. I'm still trying to learn.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Carrots are fine. Yellow corn will indeed bronze white birds; for that matter, so will too much dark greens such as alfalfa or spinich.

Availability of feed brands varies widely across the country. There are only a few brands that have a national distribution. Offhand the only ones I can think of are Purina, Nutrena and Manna Pro. Of these, the Manna Pro is the only one I would use. There are many locally milled brands that may be as good or better. READ the labels. Talk to other breeders in your area (not just those that raise silkies) and see what they use. Ask why--as long as cost is not the ONLY reason, take their advice.

Chicks do better on medicated feed. No ifs and or buts. Even organic rules allow medicated chick feed up to a certain age.

Black oil sunflower seed will lower protein levels, not raise them. Calf manna will indeed raise the protein level, though. Peas, beans, kelp, cat/dog food will help raise protein, too.