Silkie question- Update

[jimnjay]

It really is sort of sad when you trim the beard and crest and they respond like there is a whole world they did not know about. I thought one of my Silkies was blind. She could not find the treats I threw to save her life. She was also very timid and not as active as the others. Once I trimmed her she was a whole new chickens. I keep my Silkies to where they can see well unless I have one I want to show. I will keep those in a small enclosure or cage so they are not exposed to danger they can't respond to.

They really do blossom when they can see and I have always felt they were very grateful. My little trimmed girls always come running when I go out there so I know the associate me and treats they can now see. LOL,

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Joe, I don't think I would trim the poof, I would just trim around their eyes till you can see their eyes, LOL Just be real careful and use blunt pointed sissors

 

[ajablu]

The breeder I got my birds from said you can pluck them too. I thought it would hurt them more, but I am also afraid to use scissors on their face so I might try it.
Michele

 

[seminolewind]

Quote:
Ouch. Well, I held them, and used a blunt tip scissors. I was very patient and didn't make attempts when they squiggled. I've done 5 so far, and haven't had a problem. Go slow. Plucking might cause them psychological harm.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
Joe, I don't think I would trim the poof, I would just trim around their eyes till you can see their eyes, LOL Just be real careful and use blunt pointed sissors

Seminolewind, I used my beard trimmer set on the lowest setting. It did a fantastic and fast job, just a minute or two to finish. Anne held her, and I held her neck and went straight up and straight down on both sides and the front. That took off the excess from her top puff and her beard. Other than my being able to see her eyes now, there's almost no change in her appearance; you'd never think that I'd done anything to her because the trimmer did such a good/quick job.
I know that she can now see in all directions, and I will never let her be blind again. Actually, I now realize that it's inhumane not to trim the excess from a silkie's face sides and front.

BTW, the beard trimmer is designed in such a totally-safe way that it would be very hard to hurt her or her eyes, much safer than scissors.

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
I did make a separate post. Something interesting that I learned from it is that if you pluck the feathers they will begin growing back immediately. If you cut/trim the feathers, they will stay that way until their next molt, i.e., trimming is a one-minute job that lasts for a year.

 

[seminolewind]

Hey Joe, that beard trimmer is a great idea-my hubby has one, and we just won't tell him that I'll be borrowing it, LOL. Much safer than scissors.
My silkies are totally different now that they can see. The roos never had much interest in treats, so I thought, but now they are waiting for it. Thanks for the good idea