Silkie chicken age

[bdhiiii]

I have four blue Silkies that are around 10–11 weeks old, I believe. They still have a mix of chick fluff and adult Silkie feathers, but they don’t have the cotton-ball-like feathers on their heads yet. One of them, which I’ve named Bigfoot because of their huge feet, has feathers that look more like those of a songbird. Is this normal, or should I look into it?

Unsure if this is the right thread type, apologies if not just curious.

 

[Debbie292d]

I have four blue Silkies that are around 10–11 weeks old, I believe. They still have a mix of chick fluff and adult Silkie feathers, but they don’t have the cotton-ball-like feathers on their heads yet. One of them, which I’ve named Bigfoot because of their huge feet, has feathers that look more like those of a songbird. Is this normal, or should I look into it?

Unsure if this is the right thread type, apologies if not just curious.

Silkies do have feathers on their feet.

These may be "pet quality" if they don't end up with poof balls on their heads though.

You could show us a picture of them if you like. That would help.

 

[bdhiiii]

Silkies do have feathers on their feet.

These may be "pet quality" if they don't end up with poof balls on their heads though.

You could show us a picture of them if you like. That would help.

 

[Debbie292d]

Oh, they'll get poofs. That's just how they start out. The males will stay more like that, and the girls will turn into puff balls. They look like they need more room. Can you get them outside? They are old enough.

 

[bdhiiii]

Oh, they'll get poofs. That's just how they start out. The males will stay more like that, and the girls will turn into puff balls. They look like they need more room. Can you get them outside? They are old enough.

Yeah we just have them in here now inside a smaller coop since it's been cold outside but they have a space to roam around while we wait for it to warm up.

 

[Debbie292d]

Yeah we just have them in here now inside a smaller coop since it's been cold outside but they have a space to roam around while we wait for it to warm up.

What's the temps you have there? We've had some of these silkies outside at 0F when they were 4-5 weeks old, out of the wind, with a Cozy Coop heater in their hutch. They'd run back and forth to warm up.

 

[Debbie292d]

I forgot to mention, welcome to BYC!

 

[bdhiiii]

Around a day ago it was in the feels like of the negatives, it's warmed up a mediocre amount now so we're going to put them back outside soon, we only got our coop heater recently since everything was shut down due to a winter storm. Thank you for the warm welcome here.