Silkie saga

[TwoCrows]

Yeah, there's a few things I'd do different, and a few I wouldn't panic over as much. The eggs were in cartons fat end up when I picked them up, but age / previous storage is unknown.

I removed the blood ring egg, and the other questionable egg I had I saw movement in today so, yay

The silkies were dust bathing in damp dirt today and looked a total mess, I didn't have my phone, but I wish I had some pictures

Sounds like the eggies are doing well! I am counting the days to hatch!!

It always amazes me how a white bird can get SO dirty in a dust bath and come clean later. Are they taking a shower somewhere, going to a groomer??

 

[2ndTink]

Sounds like the eggies are doing well! I am counting the days to hatch!!

It always amazes me how a white bird can get SO dirty in a dust bath and come clean later. Are they taking a shower somewhere, going to a groomer??

Yup, back to shiny white this morning despite their damp dirt bath yesterday and rain yesterday and last night. All floofed up like they've been to a beautician

I haven't had a lot of time with the chickens lately but I was watching Einio this morning, my tipsy SLW, she's thankfully not worse. She's developing pretty normally, she's starting to get some color to her face and other than still laying down more than the others, she seems quite capable. The SLW are 15 weeks old today, so I'm also quite confident none are roosters, phew!

Heavy and Nu haven't crowed yet that I've heard, and Cappy, no wattles still and the comb is still just a tad thickened, still leaning cockerel. Cappy doesn't even has as much head poof as Heavy or Nu. It's got to be a cockerel... I think.... lol!

Juravenator is still determinedly broody, in the rollaway nesting box, I couldn't get her moved to a chick appropriate box. Several of the other chickens are happily using the curtained regular nesting box, I'm not sure if they are eating any or not, it's been staying clean. There was an eaten egg in the rollaway box this morning though. If Juravenator ate it, would mean that I can't give her hatching eggs, but there's no way to know if it actually was her. It would be so cute to have a few blue/black/splash silkie babies being raised by her. Maybe 2, just in case she's a horrible mother. I have two weeks to get things situated if possible.

Would it be a bad idea to try and get her brooding in the coop of the 15 wk SLW and silkies? She's low on the pecking order in her flock so might have a heap of trouble if she has to brood in there. I can always brood them all myself, she's just been so devoted to setting on eggs.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yup, back to shiny white this morning despite their damp dirt bath yesterday and rain yesterday and last night. All floofed up like they've been to a beautician

I haven't had a lot of time with the chickens lately but I was watching Einio this morning, my tipsy SLW, she's thankfully not worse. She's developing pretty normally, she's starting to get some color to her face and other than still laying down more than the others, she seems quite capable. The SLW are 15 weeks old today, so I'm also quite confident none are roosters, phew!

Heavy and Nu haven't crowed yet that I've heard, and Cappy, no wattles still and the comb is still just a tad thickened, still leaning cockerel. Cappy doesn't even has as much head poof as Heavy or Nu. It's got to be a cockerel... I think.... lol!

Juravenator is still determinedly broody, in the rollaway nesting box, I couldn't get her moved to a chick appropriate box. Several of the other chickens are happily using the curtained regular nesting box, I'm not sure if they are eating any or not, it's been staying clean. There was an eaten egg in the rollaway box this morning though. If Juravenator ate it, would mean that I can't give her hatching eggs, but there's no way to know if it actually was her. It would be so cute to have a few blue/black/splash silkie babies being raised by her. Maybe 2, just in case she's a horrible mother. I have two weeks to get things situated if possible.

Would it be a bad idea to try and get her brooding in the coop of the 15 wk SLW and silkies? She's low on the pecking order in her flock so might have a heap of trouble if she has to brood in there. I can always brood them all myself, she's just been so devoted to setting on eggs.

Love all the "floof" talk, I can just imagine how cute they all look. ❤

If Juravenator is low in the order and broody, she may become a target for other more aggressive hens. If she's one to be a determined broody, you might try and move her to other quarters where she won't be bothered as easily, she shouldn't break. You can also section her off from the others too if possible, give her her own food and water too, this way she can stay where she is and nobody can access her. What ever is easier for you and her of course.

 

[2ndTink]

Juravenator taking a quick break from the box. She runs around with her hackles up the whole time, this is her heading "back to work".

 

[2ndTink]

New photos of Einio, her comb dent is growing with her, so weird. I know this thread is supposed to be about the silkies, but the sikkie support crew counts too right?

 

[TwoCrows]

Juravenator taking a quick break from the box. She runs around with her hackles up the whole time, this is her heading "back to work".

What a Cutie Pie! Black Australorp? She takes her job seriously!

New photos of Einio, her comb dent is growing with her, so weird. I know this thread is supposed to be about the silkies, but the sikkie support crew counts too right?

I love all birds, it matters not the breed, I am enjoying seeing your flock!! ❤ Einio is adorable!

 

[2ndTink]

What a Cutie Pie! Black Australorp? She takes her job seriously!

I love all birds, it matters not the breed, I am enjoying seeing your flock!! ❤ Einio is adorable!

Yep, hatchery stock BA from Mt Healthy. The other 2 BAs I got at the same time with her are absolutely massive chickens, she's the most normal looking of the three.

Nobody's got room for ugly chickens! Lol, not sure I've seen a truly ugly chicken yet though my ugliest chicken is Starki, one of the two giant BAs, she's had a rough go of things, some sort of autoimmune issue maybe, her first year, every other week I thought she'd die. Her head is really small, narrow, and her eyes are sunk in. But, she's still here and looks relatively healthy, missing some feathers and her feet have some knots on the bottom from her hyperkeratosis. They don't seem to bother her though, thankfully. I'd guess her to be around 10 pounds, I should weigh her and Fluffikins, the other huge BA.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yep, hatchery stock BA from Mt Healthy. The other 2 BAs I got at the same time with her are absolutely massive chickens, she's the most normal looking of the three.

Nobody's got room for ugly chickens! Lol, not sure I've seen a truly ugly chicken yet though my ugliest chicken is Starki, one of the two giant BAs, she's had a rough go of things, some sort of autoimmune issue maybe, her first year, every other week I thought she'd die. Her head is really small, narrow, and her eyes are sunk in. But, she's still here and looks relatively healthy, missing some feathers and her feet have some knots on the bottom from her hyperkeratosis. They don't seem to bother her though, thankfully. I'd guess her to be around 10 pounds, I should weigh her and Fluffikins, the other huge BA.

I love Black Australorps, even if they are hatchery stock! Some of my most friendliest and healthiest birds have been Australorps. Long living birds, I had one gal live to be almost 13 years old! They can be massive, can't they?! They say Australorps have more feathers than any other breed, they really are so much softer than other breeds! Glad you are enjoying yours!

 

[2ndTink]

I love Black Australorps, even if they are hatchery stock! Some of my most friendliest and healthiest birds have been Australorps. Long living birds, I had one gal live to be almost 13 years old! They can be massive, can't they?! They say Australorps have more feathers than any other breed, they really are so much softer than other breeds! Glad you are enjoying yours!

I have 6 total BAs, I'm sure none of them really fit the SOP, they all look so different from each other too. Jersey is super aggressive, photos attached. She's my favorite, even though she flogs me, bites me, and is a total brat Thelma is super dainty, Louise has white earlobes and is crazy flighty and the most boring.

 

[TwoCrows]

I have 6 total BAs, I'm sure none of them really fit the SOP, they all look so different from each other too. Jersey is super aggressive, photos attached. She's my favorite, even though she flogs me, bites me, and is a total brat Thelma is super dainty, Louise has white earlobes and is crazy flighty and the most boring.

OMG....you have an aggressive BA too??! Must be an Australorp thing...My Pearl an Australorp was just like your Jersey, she would attack me, bite me and draw blood, flog me, all of it! She was even aggressive with the hens, ripping their combs, just an awful personality! And I don't like to be glad a chicken has passed on, but Pearl died at the age of 7, good grief, I was relieved and so was the flock that she was gone!