Silkie Questions...

[Chickens-246]

My Silkies are almost 11 weeks old and I'm wondering.

When should they start to roost?

How high will they be able to fly?

What is a minimal size needed for nesting? (I have a space problem)

 

[Frozen Feathers]

They can't fly. They can hop maybe at the most a foot and a half, to two feet off the ground. Most of my Silkies don't roost, only the rooster, they just kinda pile up on the ground. I would say just a standard sized nest for them, they like to have a little room. You only need one nest for every 5 birds.

 

[TucsonFrizzled]

Howdy ya'll ~

Fancie has laid three eggs in six days. Three weeks ago. They were each perfect, pinky with light black swirls.

She has not laid any more. I know because most of time she is on my desk and in a diaper. Both of which makes an egg noticeable.

I have made sure that she gets light for more than 12 hours a day. Her diet is good, layers mash, granite grit, oatmeal, and treats of a few bites of what - ever protein I am eating.

How can I help her get into a schedule? At least she is not broody, yet.

Wendy and Fancie
SooperDooper Coops

 

[SpottedCrow]

Don't be in a rush there, Tucson...Once she gets on a schedule, she's certain to go broody...

As for the flying, you're probably right, Angie...but a silkie mix can certainly do it...Penny has flown from the back porch, over the bottom half of the dutch door, through the kitchen and onto DH's chair without touching floor.

 

[JudyMcKinn]

Hi, Backyardchickens. My silkies don't roost, either. Except, as Angie said, my little rooster, Maurice, seems able to get up on the roost with the big girls. He is in a pen with my standard hens. I have a 2 ft high roost for them, and also a 3 ft high roost. He makes it onto the 2 ft, then hops to the 3 ft one. But my Silkie hens stay on the ground in their coop. I read someone on here said they had a piece of 4 X 4 laying in their coop that their silkies "roosted" on. LOL

Tucson, if there is a way to get a chicken "on schedule" I have never found it. She will do whatever the heck she wants to, in spite of you, probably. LOL