Should I buy these silkie babies??

[drumstick diva]

No one could resist them

 

[PoultryGirly]

So cute! Are they buff silkies???

 

[GardenGal]

Oh wow! I would've taken them too

 

[barbiegirl]

Awww how cute.

 

[Debs55]

Thanks yall! yes they are adorable . oh I meant to mention earlier that while i was buying them the owner asked me about my chickens and if I'd ever be willing to sell one or 2 and i said yes and he said that he goes to the chicken auction and that rhode island red hens are worth $10 or more and that he has sold his adult white silkies for $22 apiece once they are laying...is this true? Just curious. Anyway I'll post some better pictures later

 

[TheChicknGarden]

Depending on the quality of silkie you can get any where from 20-60 (30-60 being show quality) Sometimes pet quality can even be for free just depending on the saler and how quick they want to get rid of...

 

[jtbrown]

I have 2 silkies I got from feed store mixed in with other bantums. I had to separate them for a while after they were 6+ weeks old as one got a quarter sized hole in the back of her neck pecked on by other large fowl her age. So, I separated them, and put them in with chicks that were only a few weeks old and they have grown up with them and seem to be settled well. Also, since they were bigger, the little chicks "clung" to them, so they are really part of the this flock. I will be merging my two sets (one grow out, one big girls) in the next month or so. I have also gotten rid of the roosters from first flock, and I think they were the major pickers.

They seem to have issues once outside in covered run, they get confused and don't go back in like they should. However, I love them so, so darn cute. Impossible not to smile while looking at them! GOod luck, you have adorable babies.

 

[Debs55]

well I have 2 options...

1) I put them in a brooder inside of my run and them when they are older I merge them in with my other girls (10 RIRs and 5 brown leghorns- 18 weeks old)

or 2) I build them a new coop and run


Which is the better option? I would like to raise and breed them and hopefully sell the chicks

 

[GardenGal]

Hmm.... It depends on various factors. Does your flock free range much, and will you be wanting to range them all together eventually? Do you have other roosters who might breed with your silkies and throw a monkey wrench in your breeding program? How big is your existing run and coop? Are both big enough to be partitioned while the silkies are growing?

I'm in the process of integrating two flocks right now, and what I've done is build the new ones a coop next to the original coop, and partitioned the run so they are around each other. They free range at the same time and it's very challenging. Getting better though. Either that or I'm just getting used to it

 

[Debs55]

No I do not free range because there are way too many predators around here and i do not have any other roosters. I am building a little enclosure for them to put inside of my existing run. My run is plenty big enough for everyone. my coop will be alittle on the small side ( if going by the 4 sq ft rule) but I didnt really consider that a problem because the only time my chickens are in the coop is to roost becuse we have such hot weather.

but as of last night this may not be an issue because I talked to my mom and mentioned that if we really want to try breeding that we may need another coop and run and she said she had thought so too so now we just have to get my dad on board to help build it .

how big should my coop and run be for silkie/ possible bantam coop and run? my existing run is 20x30 so Id like to connect the old and new one