Silkie 'Grow-Along' Thread!

[NNYchick]

Thank you, I did end up having to separate the serama with her chicks because she was being really nasty to any chicks that got close that was not one of her clutch. That’s the good thing about silkies they don’t care if a chick come up and rubs its chest the lift up and let it in.heres the pile of silkie mamas.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Thank you, I did end up having to separate the serama with her chicks because she was being really nasty to any chicks that got close that was not one of her clutch. That’s the good thing about silkies they don’t care if a chick come up and rubs its chest the lift up and let it in.heres the pile of silkie mamas.
View attachment 1910167

Silkies will pull anything smaller than them under them if they're broody!

Well some won't but the majority will mother anything

Are your chicks doing alright still?

I've got some due to hatch tomorrow night!

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

One of my eggs has started pipping

As for my older two that I'm keeping, I've started with introductions to my flock.

All of my Silkies tend to be fantastic through this time with a couple of pecks attempted through the bars but nothing overly dramatic.

However, Oogy my blue pullet is such a pain...

She isn't the top hen, she's second off bottom but she always causes the most issues. Since adding these two chicks into the crate in their run, Oogy has caused fights with every chicken in the flock including my rooster. She's trying her hardest to get into the crate to have a go at them.

Seriously Oogy...you need to calm down or the top hens and rooster will show you what they're really made of

 

[NNYchick]

My first clutch of chicks I waited till 4 weeks to integrate and it was difficult and a lot of bullying. Then I found out about brooding in the coop. Now If I don’t have a broody to raise chicks, I section off an area for the chicks at a week old I move them out with their heating pad brooder plate.

After watching the older flock for a few days they start venturing between the gate but can get back to their area if bullying, to eat or nap under the heat. My older silkies can’t get in there. Tiny chicks are not a threat like larger chicks so by week 3 they are spending all day with the flock integrated no issues.
If the rest flock is accepting but Oogy is being the bully. I would put her in the cage for a few days.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

My first clutch of chicks I waited till 4 weeks to integrate and it was difficult and a lot of bullying. Then I found out about brooding in the coop. Now If I don’t have a broody to raise chicks, I section off an area for the chicks at a week old I move them out with their heating pad brooder plate. View attachment 1912641 After watching the older flock for a few days they start venturing between the gate but can get back to their area if bullying, to eat or nap under the heat. My older silkies can’t get in there. Tiny chicks are not a threat like larger chicks so by week 3 they are spending all day with the flock integrated no issues.
If the rest flock is accepting but Oogy is being the bully. I would put her in the cage for a few days.

I like the idea of brooding in the coop with a separated section for it. As you say the chicks could hop back through but the bigger adults couldn't.

My coop isn't set out right to be able to do that and I have to brood in adapted rabbit hutches if it's a broody hatching them.

Oogy is still being a pain, she grabbed the white chick (Porridge) through the bars today and ripped a huge chunk of feathers out. She clamped down her beak and wouldn't let go so I literally had to force her beak open.

Tomorrow I'm going to try and introduce them in a different environment away from the flock and see what happens. Of course I will be there at all times. If all else fails it will be Oogy going in the crate!

 

[NNYchick]

I hope all is going well and Oogy is be having herself.
I let my serama Buttercup out, she will still go after a chick that’s not in her clutch if they gets too close but they are imprinted to the silkies now so they just stay away from her. It’s the weirdest thing I have ever seen all the chicks play together but only if one of the others comes over to her does she be mean.
I also opened the gate to the rest of the flock yesterday my silkie rooster was anxious to meet his new littles in the flock. He is such a good boy he likes brooding as much as the girls.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

I hope all is going well and Oogy is be having herself.
I let my serama Buttercup out, she will still go after a chick that’s not in her clutch if they gets too close but they are imprinted to the silkies now so they just stay away from her. It’s the weirdest thing I have ever seen all the chicks play together but only if one of the others comes over to her does she be mean.
I also opened the gate to the rest of the flock yesterday my silkie rooster was anxious to meet his new littles in the flock. He is such a good boy he likes brooding as much as the girls.
View attachment 1916193 View attachment 1916194

Surprisingly I let the two chicks out into the run and Oogy hasn't bothered them as much as when they were in the crate. She's coming into laying for the first time so that's probably what made her more grouchy than normal. I'm looking forward to her first egg, I can't wait to incubate some blues! (Well...blue x whites!)

The two chicks Porridge and Tiramisu are out of the crate permanently now. Still a few squabbles but just what I expect. They're getting put in their place.

Out of my growers, I only have Porridge and Tiramisu now, all the others I have sold.

I'm glad all your chicks are still coming on and growing nicely! Your Serama is a protective mother, but at least she lets them play with the other chicks though!

Is one of those chicks a blue I see?

I now have a new batch to post here, all pure whites! (And one Quail chick!)

 

[NNYchick]

Yes I think the all silver might be blue. I ended up with blue, black silver partridge, gold partridge, paint, 2 white, and 2 I think will be buff blue (not sure what to call the color). I have one that I’m growing out from chicks I got this spring from the same lines, mine is more on the blue side with light buff highlights, I’ve seen a couple more look almost mauve. This is my girl it’s hard to see the buff color because it’s only on the tips. I’m hoping the 2 chicks I hatched feather out like this.i don’t know though they look to be feathering in white?
I think they are her “partridge project”

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

Yes I think the all silver might be blue. I ended up with blue, black silver partridge, gold partridge, paint, 2 white, and 2 I think will be buff blue (not sure what to call the color). I have one that I’m growing out from chicks I got this spring from the same lines, mine is more on the blue side with light buff highlights, I’ve seen a couple more look almost mauve. This is my girl it’s hard to see the buff color because it’s only on the tips. I’m hoping the 2 chicks I hatched feather out like this.i don’t know though they look to be feathering in white?
I think they are her “partridge project”

You have quite a range of colours then, I hope they do turn out that colour though, it's beautiful!

I should be back posting photos here soon, I've had a few hatches over the last few weeks and some more due mid October.

 

[Fur-N-Fowl]

@NNYchick how are your chicks coming along so far?