Silkie saga

[2ndTink]

Silkie photos galore!

One of my favorites



JetPack is quite the little strutter, if he isn't eating, he's posing. I hope he doesn't turn into a hormonal jerk!



Satin partridge-ish cutie



Splash satin



Splash or blues, still not sure





Light partridge silkie

 

[TwoCrows]

Good morning!

We have three pear trees, two were planted in the mid 90s from what I can see on an old photo of the house that was left behind. They are gigantic and the pears are small but incredibly sweet and juicy. You usually end up with juice running down your hand. I completely understand why the bugs and worms can't stay away from them. Much better than store pears, but they are delicate so I know they wouldn't handle storage and shipping.

I'll get more silkie chick photos today, I went out this morning ans JetPack came running toward me again, made it about 6 ft from the box of safety, stopped and made himself as big as possible, stood up on his tiny toes, and posed. I wish I had my phone with me to get a photo. It was adorable. And hopefully not a sign he's going to be a dominant jerk toward me...

I think my initial guess thay Cappy Llama was a cockerel all those weeks ago, is true, he's just not the same at all as Nu and Heavy who have been crowing for a few weeks now. Cappy Llama is cute, smaller than all the others, but he doesn't have the right toes, his back toe is really thick, just one instead of two, but not even fused looking, just a big fat toe, and it has 3 nails. I'm not planning on keeping him as we will be keeping JetPack and maybe one other from the hatch we did. If I do breed I really want to try for at least breeder quality. I wish you were closer I would absolutely give Cappy Llama to you! I need more coops

I still have to find a way to get the grow out coops moved from my friend's place, she's about 40 minutes away. They won't be good for winder though, unless I enclose the top part. The one just has the back covered with the other 3 sides just wire. I think they'll be great for breeding pens, broody pens, and grow outs.

The description of your pears have me drooling right now. They sound heavenly! I have a couple of store bought pears in my fruit basket waiting to be eaten, I will dive into one after I send this, meanwhile trying to imagine it tastes as good as one of yours!

Oh I totally get it, one shouldn't breed birds that don't fit the criteria or have issues. Cappy really is a doll though, if I lived closer to you, I'd take him in a heart beat! ❤

Silkie photos galore!

One of my favorites
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JetPack is quite the little strutter, if he isn't eating, he's posing. I hope he doesn't turn into a hormonal jerk!
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Satin partridge-ish cutie
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Splash satin
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Splash or blues, still not sure
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Light partridge silkie
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O M G!!!!! Cuteness like this should be illegal!! They are ALL so adorable, you just want to hug and smoose them all! I don't know a whole lot about Silkis, but JetPack is one handsome guy, look at that pose!!! ❤ Wow, award winning! I too hope he doesn't turn into a monster, he's already charging?? Hopefully he's just playing. He's too cute to be a monster!!

Thanks for sharing these photos, brought a huge smile to my face, just over the top Cuteness!

 

[2ndTink]

The description of your pears have me drooling right now. They sound heavenly! I have a couple of store bought pears in my fruit basket waiting to be eaten, I will dive into one after I send this, meanwhile trying to imagine it tastes as good as one of yours!

Oh I totally get it, one shouldn't breed birds that don't fit the criteria or have issues. Cappy really is a doll though, if I lived closer to you, I'd take him in a heart beat! ❤

O M G!!!!! Cuteness like this should be illegal!! They are ALL so adorable, you just want to hug and smoose them all! I don't know a whole lot about Silkis, but JetPack is one handsome guy, look at that pose!!! ❤ Wow, award winning! I too hope he doesn't turn into a monster, he's already charging?? Hopefully he's just playing. He's too cute to be a monster!!

Thanks for sharing these photos, brought a huge smile to my face, just over the top Cuteness!

I hope your pears were as delicious as store bought pears can be!

I'm not sure JetPack is charging, or constantly wanting food. I think he thinks everything is food. Anything that moves, he tries to eat. In taking pictures, it's hard to get any of him not directly in the food bowl time will tell, he's so cute, I hope he stays sweet.

I was taking more photos tonight, they are all so adorable. They are pretty comfortable in their new home now so they were running around and being silly tonight









And, I got 2 more SLW eggs today! Little itty bitty things
Photos of Micro and Silvis from when I was in the next co-op over, they were peaking at me

 

[2ndTink]

Here's my egg basket

I have first (sometimes second) eggs, big eggs, extra colorful eggs, etc.

 

[TwoCrows]

I hope your pears were as delicious as store bought pears can be!

I'm not sure JetPack is charging, or constantly wanting food. I think he thinks everything is food. Anything that moves, he tries to eat. In taking pictures, it's hard to get any of him not directly in the food bowl time will tell, he's so cute, I hope he stays sweet.

I was taking more photos tonight, they are all so adorable. They are pretty comfortable in their new home now so they were running around and being silly tonight
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And, I got 2 more SLW eggs today! Little itty bitty things
Photos of Micro and Silvis from when I was in the next co-op over, they were peaking at me
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JetPack the foodie... He sounds adorable! Oh goodness you have the cutest flock! They are growing to be gorgeous birds! I can tell from here they are having fun being alive. You must have a grin ear to ear just watching them play! Just adorable! Oh and Mico and Silvis are gorgeous, beautiful feathering!! I love laced feathers, I've never kept any with lacing. So pretty! ❤ Nice eggs!

Here's my egg basket

I have first (sometimes second) eggs, big eggs, extra colorful eggs, etc.

Oh I love the egg basket!!!! ❤❤ I have never blown out eggs before, is it difficult to do? What a nice way to honor their first eggs keeps the memories alive, Love it!!! ❤ ❤

Thanks for sharing all these photos, I am enjoying tagging along on your journey!

Have a great day today, hopefully an easy work day!

 

[Akgmrw62]

First of all, I'm not sure how I ended up with bantam silkies. If any of you have seen the video clip going around where a lady says that she tripped near the chicks at TSC and she doesn't know how it happened but chicks just fell into a box, that fell into her cart, and onto the register, and then into her car. I completely understand, I am also clumsy at times and this completely explains how I came home from TSC last Saturday with 4 bantam chicks mysteriously in a box, on my lap, in the truck. Well, once they were in the truck of course I had to get then somewhere warm with food and water so into the brooder they went with the 7 other chicks that somehow ended up riding home with us 2 weeks prior. (This was a "no new chickens" year)

I made the little silkies a hide, they took to it right away, but one also took to trying to eat the comb off the head of a bigger chick, like full on beak clamped down thrashing its little body back and forth trying to rip the poor chicks single comb off its head. I was watching for signs of bullying from the bigger chicks on the little chicks which would mean I'd set up a second brooder, but I wasn't prepared to protect the big chicks from the little itty bitty poofs of silkie fury.

This is my first time with silkies, my current knowledge is limited to what I've read here and online over the past few years of having various other standard sized breeds.

My observations so far:
- holy mackerel they are CUTE!!!
‐ they are pretty quiet and not overly rambunctious
- they will pile in a corner and fight to have their beaks smooshed into the 90 deg bend of the brooder
- they vigorously pull each other's fluff, the one who's feathers are being pulled completely ignores the fact that they are trying to be eaten
- they try to eat the bigger chicks freshly grown feathers right off their bodies
- they happily peck at the side of the brooder to try and eat it
- they freak out over mash and then get zonked in a food coma

And, today I saw one opening its beak to breath in, not good! I picked it up and could hear it gasping for breath. I took it to better light to check it out ans finally found a little growth like thing in the corner of its beak. Using some tweezers I tried to touch it, the chick was trying to get away and seemed like me touching it was uncomfortable. I was able to grab the mystery growth a little ans the chick ripped its head sideways and I caught a glimpse of something flesh colored, had a moments panic that I just ripped its tongue out. Got a second hold on it and out popped a penny sized piece of shaving. Thankfully the chick immediately improved.

These little poofs are off to a good start, and I'm excited to see them grow and looking forward to all the entertainment they'll bring. They are straight run so also hoping there are mostly pullets... not sure I'll keep any more roos. We already have an EE roo and he is plenty.

Yay silkies!

Now see, you'd make an excellent story writer! Don't you hate when those chicks just somehow magically appear lol. My EE Roo and EE red/black hen just seemingly showed up at my doorstep one day telling a tale of sadness and dispair....go figure lol

 

[2ndTink]

Now see, you'd make an excellent story writer! Don't you hate when those chicks just somehow magically appear lol. My EE Roo and EE red/black hen just seemingly showed up at my doorstep one day telling a tale of sadness and dispair....go figure lol

Yeah, I really don't know how it happens, one day you're thinking maybe you'd like to have 8 chickens and boom, there's 47!

Even when I don't intend to add more chickens to the flock, one day I'll come home and there's a brooder with chicks in it. Total mystery!

And when they show up on your doorstep, what are you supposed to do? Turn them away!?! Not with those cute, needy, faces, you just HAVE to take them in and care for them.

 

[2ndTink]

JetPack the foodie... He sounds adorable! Oh goodness you have the cutest flock! They are growing to be gorgeous birds! I can tell from here they are having fun being alive. You must have a grin ear to ear just watching them play! Just adorable! Oh and Mico and Silvis are gorgeous, beautiful feathering!! I love laced feathers, I've never kept any with lacing. So pretty! ❤ Nice eggs!

Oh I love the egg basket!!!! ❤❤ I have never blown out eggs before, is it difficult to do? What a nice way to honor their first eggs keeps the memories alive, Love it!!! ❤ ❤

Thanks for sharing all these photos, I am enjoying tagging along on your journey!

Have a great day today, hopefully an easy work day!

JetPack the foodie... He sounds adorable! Oh goodness you have the cutest flock! They are growing to be gorgeous birds! I can tell from here they are having fun being alive. You must have a grin ear to ear just watching them play! Just adorable! Oh and Mico and Silvis are gorgeous, beautiful feathering!! I love laced feathers, I've never kept any with lacing. So pretty! ❤ Nice eggs!

Oh I love the egg basket!!!! ❤❤ I have never blown out eggs before, is it difficult to do? What a nice way to honor their first eggs keeps the memories alive, Love it!!! ❤ ❤

Thanks for sharing all these photos, I am enjoying tagging along on your journey!

Have a great day today, hopefully an easy work day!

I need to get a video of JetPack's little run / shuffle, he stands up as high as he can and runs toward me and his little feathered feet make the cutest sound. Last night sitting with the chicks and watching their antics was so peaceful, it was the first time in a long time I've had a moment like that. I named the smaller partridge chick, it was tapping along the wall while walking back and forth along a 6 foot section like it was doing an inspection. So I've named it after our local inspector, much more to that story but I shouldn't share it, just if you knew the whole story, I have no doubts you'd get a HUGE laugh

I started 2 paintings of the chicks over the weekend, the one I don't like so I'm going to try and change it, if that fails I'm covering the whole canvas in black and starting over. I have one of the partridge, and one of JetPack. I'd like to do one of all the chicks circled around their food too, I think that would be fun. I don't paint often, maybe once every few years, and I keep it simple and kind of abstract, if I don't, then I get hooked on it having to be perfect and then I get frustrated and there goes the relaxing part of painting. Lol. I hope to finish the paintings this weekend and then I'll share

Our first flock 3 years ago had 2 GLW, unfortunately were both cockerels so I rehomed them, these are our first laced pullets, they are so pretty! I have a system down with Fizz, I carry a big plastic shovel, he attacks it sometimes and other times just chest bumps it. I just move slowly and try to be non-agressive. It makes feeding up quite slow, and not relaxing, but we're making it.

I appreciate you tagging along on this journey, it's been fun!

 

[TwoCrows]

I need to get a video of JetPack's little run / shuffle, he stands up as high as he can and runs toward me and his little feathered feet make the cutest sound. Last night sitting with the chicks and watching their antics was so peaceful, it was the first time in a long time I've had a moment like that. I named the smaller partridge chick, it was tapping along the wall while walking back and forth along a 6 foot section like it was doing an inspection. So I've named it after our local inspector, much more to that story but I shouldn't share it, just if you knew the whole story, I have no doubts you'd get a HUGE laugh

I started 2 paintings of the chicks over the weekend, the one I don't like so I'm going to try and change it, if that fails I'm covering the whole canvas in black and starting over. I have one of the partridge, and one of JetPack. I'd like to do one of all the chicks circled around their food too, I think that would be fun. I don't paint often, maybe once every few years, and I keep it simple and kind of abstract, if I don't, then I get hooked on it having to be perfect and then I get frustrated and there goes the relaxing part of painting. Lol. I hope to finish the paintings this weekend and then I'll share

Our first flock 3 years ago had 2 GLW, unfortunately were both cockerels so I rehomed them, these are our first laced pullets, they are so pretty! I have a system down with Fizz, I carry a big plastic shovel, he attacks it sometimes and other times just chest bumps it. I just move slowly and try to be non-agressive. It makes feeding up quite slow, and not relaxing, but we're making it.

I appreciate you tagging along on this journey, it's been fun!

Oh I would love to see little JetPack do his shuffle!! I am sure he's the cutest thing EVER!! ❤

Inspector "Gadget"? It's fun to name them, I usually end up giving them 2 names because eventually the first one doesn't fit as they age or they develop some weird quirk that requires a name change.

Oh gosh, I'd love to see your painting!! When ever you get inspired, you should paint, especially when it's chickens! I used to do a lot of drawing, mostly ink, some charcoal. I haven't done anything in years, I really should kick my own butt and do some art work.

Glad you are finding some nuetral ground with Fizz. I have a lady friend that was having trouble with her boy doing the same thing as Fizz, charging, lurking, even flogging her. So lately she's been trying an experiment to hopefully change his attitude toward her...instead of feeding any goodies or treats to the hens, she feeds the rooster these treats so he can feed his hens. She claims its been working and he sees her in a different light, no longer someone to run off, but one that can be part if his world. At least so far he is behaving. So maybe you could give this a try.

Ok my dear, have a fabulous evening!!

 

[2ndTink]

Oh I would love to see little JetPack do his shuffle!! I am sure he's the cutest thing EVER!! ❤

Inspector "Gadget"? It's fun to name them, I usually end up giving them 2 names because eventually the first one doesn't fit as they age or they develop some weird quirk that requires a name change.

Oh gosh, I'd love to see your painting!! When ever you get inspired, you should paint, especially when it's chickens! I used to do a lot of drawing, mostly ink, some charcoal. I haven't done anything in years, I really should kick my own butt and do some art work.

Glad you are finding some nuetral ground with Fizz. I have a lady friend that was having trouble with her boy doing the same thing as Fizz, charging, lurking, even flogging her. So lately she's been trying an experiment to hopefully change his attitude toward her...instead of feeding any goodies or treats to the hens, she feeds the rooster these treats so he can feed his hens. She claims its been working and he sees her in a different light, no longer someone to run off, but one that can be part if his world. At least so far he is behaving. So maybe you could give this a try.

Ok my dear, have a fabulous evening!!

Gadget Tim it might stick. JetPack is a camera hog, but hard to get good photos of. He's always underfoot too. Little ham. With his big chest floof and chick down on his neck, he almost looks like a NN

A lot of my chickens have some form of dinosaur names, the silkies were supposed to be snow based names, thay worked for the white ones, but not sure about the current chicks well, it's already off course with JetPack and Gadget Tim, one of the partridge chicks my friend said it looked like a marshmallow, so I of course had to add maybe a marshmallow you had accidently dropped in the ashes when you went to roast it. Contemplating naming it Ashmallow, or Ashes, or something.
JetPack in his signature pose

Gadget Tim ready to inspect!


Ashes, or Lahar, or some equally sooty name


Here's a painting I did around Christmas in 2020, it's by far the best painting I've ever done, lol. Not sure how that happened, because I'm really not a painter. If you look under the left tree you can see my original 7 chickens, Jersey, Thelma, Louise (3 BAs that I still have), Little Britches, Gladys, Aster, and Cosmos (4 GCs, only 1 remains).


I've been trying to offer Fizzy some food in a relatively neutral place, so far he's been ignoring it and following me around as I do chores. He's only been kicking the shovel about once per chore time and not a full on attack like he had been. Progress? Maybe...

I also think you should get some drawings going and share photos! I love charcoal drawings! Can't do them, but I love how they look. I had done some graphite drawings in high school and the few years after, but it's hard to find enough time anymore, I'm always looking for quick little things I can squeeze in. When I was still doing leatherwork but was getting tight on time, I used to like making little keychains, cut out a 1 1/2 x 3" or so rectangle and tool a little something on it. Not a keychain, but here's a tooled picture I did of my friend's stud.


And others...
Bridle and chinks I made

Another bridle on my horse Red

Self explanatory, and fun