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I agree completely here. $125 is a good price for something that is"just a chicken". However, when I see a $2,000 bulldog I say "just a dog". Its the time, feed and management that goes into making and keeping these breeds looking like they do. Anyone can have a silkie, not everyone has the time and money to put into what you often see at the shows. I have a friend who has silkies now, and she does not have the time to care for her birds like I do and believe me, it shows. You should see the time I take in fixing their food alone. It costs more than standard feed sure, but I hand mix and add supplements and extra and mix bowls daily. And mine are not so pampered that they are in heated and A/C'd coops, but they are kept out of the rain and wet and wind and on clean litter that I change more than I would for any other breed I own. I wash and groom and make boots for them to keep them immacculate before the shows.I have a strict time frame I follow for mite and lice control. I incubate, which costs electricity, and distilled water I have to purchase, as well as heat lamps and I have AI'd some to get fertility. I have breeding records and started using a pedigree program. You have to study your birds andpair together the ones that you think would make the best offspring.
I sell my silkies for no less than $75 a hen and $50 a rooster and they go up from there.
what is the distilled water for??? is that better for them? I got 3 beautiful silkies from a BYC member and they were imaculate and prestine, and I would like to keep them that way. I am already designing thier coop to have all sorts of extras that will help keep them clean.
The distilled water is for the incubators, not the birds.
I am always amazed how many people want to pet the silkies when I am trying to prep them for show. People ask a lot of questions about them, and are always glad to feel them and shocked when they feel like fur. The kids especially, think they are facinating.
I agree completely here. $125 is a good price for something that is"just a chicken". However, when I see a $2,000 bulldog I say "just a dog". Its the time, feed and management that goes into making and keeping these breeds looking like they do. Anyone can have a silkie, not everyone has the time and money to put into what you often see at the shows. I have a friend who has silkies now, and she does not have the time to care for her birds like I do and believe me, it shows. You should see the time I take in fixing their food alone. It costs more than standard feed sure, but I hand mix and add supplements and extra and mix bowls daily. And mine are not so pampered that they are in heated and A/C'd coops, but they are kept out of the rain and wet and wind and on clean litter that I change more than I would for any other breed I own. I wash and groom and make boots for them to keep them immacculate before the shows.I have a strict time frame I follow for mite and lice control. I incubate, which costs electricity, and distilled water I have to purchase, as well as heat lamps and I have AI'd some to get fertility. I have breeding records and started using a pedigree program. You have to study your birds andpair together the ones that you think would make the best offspring.
I sell my silkies for no less than $75 a hen and $50 a rooster and they go up from there.
what is the distilled water for??? is that better for them? I got 3 beautiful silkies from a BYC member and they were imaculate and prestine, and I would like to keep them that way. I am already designing thier coop to have all sorts of extras that will help keep them clean.
The distilled water is for the incubators, not the birds.
I am always amazed how many people want to pet the silkies when I am trying to prep them for show. People ask a lot of questions about them, and are always glad to feel them and shocked when they feel like fur. The kids especially, think they are facinating.
