Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[peepblessed]

A few of the babies....and the duck.

Iribella's sibling

Cheech and Chooch.

Iribella (Isabel's daughter)

All very cute and lovely!

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Bottom pic if I rememb
I hope he's not a cross,but we'll see.I think some have good feet and some do not in fact the guy w/ the bufont dose'nt have correct amount of toe's on one foot.I'll post more in a week or two so you all can tell me what you think.quick question ,how old are they before they can be sexed? And how long do you give starter feed till there old enough for regular feed?

Silkies get starter/grower or multi-flock their whole lives. Layer pellets aren't the best for them because they don't lay as often as some other breeds. You will just supplement with some oyster shell they can eat as needed once they start laying. It will be very hard to sex them, sometimes around 9 weeks they start to show their true colors but some you won't know until they crow or lay an egg.

Also just so you know silkie chicks are prone to wry neck so I would add some extra vitamins to their water and use a high protein starter food.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Bought my first incubator! Have it running to check the temps. What should the temp be? Also how do you make humidity? It's a little giant still air incubator with an egg turner in it. I don't have a manual with it, I bought it used, so if anyone can give me a step by step on how to use it and the temp/humidity levels that would be awesome! I plan to set the eggs saturday so I am home if and when they hatch.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Bought my first incubator! Have it running to check the temps. What should the temp be? Also how do you make humidity? It's a little giant still air incubator with an egg turner in it. I don't have a manual with it, I bought it used, so if anyone can give me a step by step on how to use it and the temp/humidity levels that would be awesome! I plan to set the eggs saturday so I am home if and when they hatch.

There are a few really good helpful threads on this site, I think this is the one recommended all the time

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/601352/little-giant-incubator-tricks

I had a heck of a time with my Styrofoam still air incubator in my wood house - its why I bought Silkies!

 

[crystal10asee]

Silkies get starter/grower or multi-flock their whole lives. Layer pellets aren't the best for them because they don't lay as often as some other breeds. You will just supplement with some oyster shell they can eat as needed once they start laying. It will be very hard to sex them, sometimes around 9 weeks they start to show their true colors but some you won't know until they crow or lay an egg.

Also just so you know silkie chicks are prone to wry neck so I would add some extra vitamins to their water and use a high protein starter food.

thank you, did'nt realize they were much different from other chickens.I am offering the extra vitamins in there water tho.but wouldent have realized about the layer vs.starter.I'm using the dumor brand ,which would you suggest?

 

[PaintedFeathers]

thank you, did'nt realize they were much different from other chickens.I am offering the extra vitamins in there water tho.but wouldent have realized about the layer vs.starter.I'm using the dumor brand ,which would you suggest?

I personally use soy free, non GMO. But it's up to you. I am very picky about what my animals eat and I only have 3 birds so I can afford to be picky haha. But pretty soon I am probably gonna change to nutrena countrywise multi flock because I will be having 3 seperate flocks. No marigold for white birds, and as little corn as possible. You can look into fermented feed too, there has been talk about how to make it a few pages back. You will see a huge improvement in the health of your birds.

 

[crystal10asee]

I personally use soy free, non GMO. But it's up to you. I am very picky about what my animals eat and I only have 3 birds so I can afford to be picky haha. But pretty soon I am probably gonna change to nutrena countrywise multi flock because I will be having 3 seperate flocks. No marigold for white birds, and as little corn as possible. You can look into fermented feed too, there has been talk about how to make it a few pages back. You will see a huge improvement in the health of your birds.

not sure what gmo is? The dumor brand say's crude protein 20%? Is that o.k. I also offer protein snacks like dried meal worms.also instead of oyster shells I give them back their egg shells after breakfast.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

not sure what gmo is? The dumor brand say's crude protein 20%? Is that o.k. I also offer protein snacks like dried meal worms.also instead of oyster shells I give them back their egg shells after breakfast.

Yeah that's fine. GMO stands for genetically modified organism. Most corn now adays and many other foods are genetically modified.

 

[littlecritters]

Hi, I've posted this on another site but thought I might get some help here also. Received a shipped silkie that came with these toes. One is bent almost 90 degrees and wont straighten out. The toe next to it has 2 nails coming out of the webbing. Almost doesn't look like a seperate toe at all. Could this be a birth defect or a broken toe or something?




Oh and this batch of birds brought us the gift of mites....sigh

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Hi, I've posted this on another site but thought I might get some help here also. Received a shipped silkie that came with these toes. One is bent almost 90 degrees and wont straighten out. The toe next to it has 2 nails coming out of the webbing. Almost doesn't look like a seperate toe at all. Could this be a birth defect or a broken toe or something?




Oh and this batch of birds brought us the gift of mites....sigh

As I said on the other site, this is very bad, and if the seller is not willing to refund any of your money I say spread the word with these pictures! Especially since they said he had no DQs! also as I said, looks to have scaly leg mites or something bad going on. outer toe nail also looks upsidown. Do you have pics of him as a whole? How do they look health wise? Looks like he has bumblefoot also!