Silkie breeding, genetics & showing

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If she's plucking her own feathers, she may have mites or lice. That could also be the reason she had no feathers on her legs and they're growing back now. You may want to check her over real good for pests and treat her anyway just to be safe (and the chicks to).
As for her picking on the smaller birds, that's pretty normal stuff. It could be stress from being moved, or just her trying to assert herself to make sure they know she's above them in the pecking order.

Good luck

 

[Kayana]

Hmm, that may be, I will have to give her a good looking over tomorrow. Thanks for the info. I have thought that maybe it could be the move. Or stress from being moved from one cage to the other. But, yes I am going to check her out. What would I treat her and the others with if it would happen to be that?

Melissa

 

[Kayana]

I checked Sassy (white silkie) and the others and I couldn't find anything and none of the others are scratching or plucking at all so I don't think its mites or lice. I think she is just stressed because we have her in a dog kennel (a big one so she can move around, strut and scratch if she likes to). But I think the dogs barking near her all the time is causing her to be very stressed. We are in the process of building a coop for all the chickens so just a couple more days and she will be in a nice big warm coop where she can get away from the stress of the dogs and all. I feel bad for her though. But I just try and talk to her and hold her and keep her calm as best as I can.

Melissa

 

[kelielliott]

Hello. New to this thread.

 

[kelielliott]

I have a frizzle, smooth sizzle and naked necks in blue, splash, partridge and black. I had two babies hatch today.

 

[AuntJenny]

Hello, I'm new to Silkies and just got this trio for Mothers Day. I am learning all about these adorable little chicks. We have old English orpingtons so these are totally different. I would love to hear any comments about these 3. We will be showing them at our small fair this yer. Have no idea how they will do. The black one is the rooster and the 2 splash are the hens. All 3 are almost a year old. The little eggs are adorable!!!!!

 

[Kayana]

First off, you have some gorgeous birds there. I love that gray splash. Silkies are very calm birds, they don't make a lot of noise and they are supposed to be the more gentle of the chicken world (of course that varies per chicken, because they all have their own personalities like any other animal), They love to cuddle and love to be close to they're humans. You will find them following you around, and "chicken cooing" is what I call it.

The only issue with Silkies is their feathers, they don't have the hard feathers like your standard chicken, so require different living arrangements then normal feathered chickens. Keeping them in dry warm environments are suggested, but as long as they are out of "cold and wet" they for the most part are ok. Don't put them where water collects because if they get wet and don't go where they can dry off and be warm they will get sick and more then likely die.

I have found that Silkies (well the ones I own) are easily stressed too. They are jumpy when you run up to them, or just start grabbing (be careful with that too because they're feathers are not quilled like they're counterparts) but the main reason for that nervousness is because of the fact they can not see to well with all that cover. So keeping them clipped around the eyes or putting their hair up will keep that from happening. Other then that they are great birds, very loveable and sensitive. Can't beat a better breed of chicken if you like to spend time with your chickens and hold them. Great around kids too

 

[AuntJenny]

Thank You Kayana!!! These 3 are very sweet. My orpingtons are but these enjoy being petted. I have a huge incubator and am planning on hatching them. I can see them being very addicting......lol they will eventually go in the barn/free range with everything else. If they can not stay dry they will go in the extra stall and be let out on dry days. I am shocked at how much I like them! BBS is my favorite color.

 

[Kayana]

Your welcome, and yes they are very addicting.. I have 4 and love them, and they are so sweet. Well, I believe they are full blood they have some smooth feathers (wings) but the rest is fluff and they all have the 5 toes, and black skin, and I do not know about the earlobes thy are just still babies. One I am hoping is going to be a light grey Smokey color I also have a buff, a black and a white.

 

[andreacroyle]

Thanks for the answer guys! color genetics confuses me. 4 out of 12 hatched what do you think of the silverish one? I would love a splash or lavender.