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Silkie problem

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by greg17, Feb 17, 2015.

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  1. Feb 17, 2015 #1
    greg17

    greg17 Hatching

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    We have a silkie rooster, and for about a month he has been mating with several of our hens. So far none of the hens have produced any eggs,fertile or not. This is our first attempt at producing chicks.We"re new at this so any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
     

  4. Feb 17, 2015 #2
    paddock36

    paddock36 Songster

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    I've had the same problem with Silkies in the past. You can try removing some of the feathers from their vent area which may help. Since Silkies are so fluffy sometimes it gets in the way, but it may just be a bad roo. That was a problem we had in the past and had to get a new one.
     
  6. Feb 18, 2015 #3
    howfunkyisurchicken

    howfunkyisurchicken Crowing

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    How old are your Silkies? If they're young, they probably just aren't ready to give up the goods yet. I've had to wait over a year for some of my hens to lay. Silkies are definitely a breed for patient people. It takes forever to tell what gender they are, then it takes forever for some of them to lay. One of my pullets that hatched last April just laid her first egg the other day, an 11 month wait!
     
  8. Feb 18, 2015 #4
    Rocky64

    Rocky64 Chirping

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    My very first flock of chickens I got was a trio of white silkies, one roo and two hens. They were over a year old when I got them and I had them for an additional 3 years. All that time and not a single egg was produced by the hens. I was about 6 when I got them so I thought that they got neutered so they couldn't lay eggs, obviously I learned later that chickens couldn't get "fixed" like cats and dogs can. To this day I haven't the slightest idea why the hens didn't lay a single egg. We even put fake eggs in the nests to encourage them.
     
  10. Feb 18, 2015 #5
    howfunkyisurchicken

    howfunkyisurchicken Crowing

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    I have never had a chicken that never laid eggs. Not saying it can't happen, but never to me. Since you were ages 6-9 when you had them, is it possible they laid eggs and you just didn't know it (maybe something was taking them, or they were hiding them)? Or, maybe they were too old to lay?
    Though, I've had one of my Silkie hens for almost 5 years now and she's still a good layer...
     
  12. Feb 18, 2015 #6
    Suzie

    Suzie Crowing

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    Your Rooster may be infertile...however as none of your chickens are laying eggs..they may well be too young..as howfunkyisurchicken says...the adage that hens start laying at 4 - 5 months of age is an average...

    So many factors to be considered...is it Winter where you are? Are any of your hens moulting? Are the hens on layer feed and do they have access to oyster shell...? Just a few reasons as to why they may not yet be laying...

    I have had hens lay at 5 months...some at varying times after..the first egg that they ever lay is one of natures miracles...

    In time, when they are ready they will start providing you with many eggs.
     

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