Silkie Question

[ChickenChick46]

Where did you get Pippin from? If indeed that's a single comb, it might be "pet quality". All silkies have walnut type combs, never single, and that isn't recessive unless mixed breed parents.

From what I can see, I'd give it time and it might wind up looking more mashed down.

I wanted to share updated photos of Pippin. What do you think of his or her comb now? I'm still trying to figure out of the true walnut shape is showing up or not. Pippin is now almost 8 weeks old. And I still have no clue on gender, lol. Silkies are hard! Pippin is such a neat little bird though.

 

[ChickenChick46]

I agree.

I've got some a couple of months old that still are looking kind of gangly. They do get better with age.

Not sure what you're feeding as most layer is just fine. With our group ranging from newly hatched to 7 years old, and two ducks included, we used Kalmbach's Flock Maker for all of them. That's 20% protein, but lower calcium. Higher protein helps with feathers, among other things.

The lower calcium is great for chicks and roosters, but the hens need calcium supplements. We just put a separate bowl of oyster shell out for them.

Pippin is a cutie!

@Debbie292d I obviously missed this comment when you left it, my apologies! And thank you! I love Pippin.

They're on Nutrena unmedicated starter grower. They seem to do well on it. Since I've got both males and females, as well as mixed ages (and plan to continue that trend), I'm either going to keep everyone on starter grower or switch to Flock Maker. And I'll always have oyster shell and grit free choice. Right now, my flock in the coop ranges from 5 weeks to 11 weeks, so I've got a bit before I need to switch, if I decide to. I've got grit out, but no oyster shell just yet.

I couldn't edit this original thread, but I did add some updated pictures of Pippin to it that I took today. Pippin will be 8 weeks old in 2 days, and I'm still trying to figure the comb out. It's not growing, lol. Or maybe I'm just bad at seeing the walnut comb taking shape?

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm either going to keep everyone on starter grower or switch to Flock Maker.

That's the same thing basically, but the Flock Maker is cheaper. It comes in crumbles, which is what we buy for everyone here, including the ducks.

Yep, they don't need the oyster shell until they start laying.

 

[ChickenChick46]

That's the same thing basically, but the Flock Maker is cheaper. It comes in crumbles, which is what we buy for everyone here, including the ducks.

Yep, they don't need the oyster shell until they start laying.

I may switch then to save the money. And I know a lot of people like pellets, but my little bantams are so small that I think crumbles may be best. And they don't seem to waste much anyway.