Silkie saga

[2ndTink]

We hatched all summer but I had to save up eggs as back then they only were laying 2-3 eggs a day and hubby needed some now and then too, so if I got 3, he got 1.

I'd take the two downstairs (60F ish) and put the pointy side down in an 18-egg carton. I'd sit one side of the carton on two bags of rice or dried beans. Every day I'd bring 2 more eggs and switch sides the rice was on. When I'd hit 16 eggs, I'd put them in the incubator, then start a new carton for the next batch. I always hatched between 12-15 of 16. (A couple usually got removed the first week as were quitters or unfertilized.)

Before that, I was keeping them in the fridge and would raise one end with something that was in the fridge. I had read somewhere they shouldn't be in the fridge for more than a week so I'd take them out after 7 days and sit them on the counter and the next day I'd have two more fresh ones to add, so 16 total. I did slightly better using the basement vs. the fridge, but if you don't have a cool place, I'd just use the fridge to be on the safe side.

I need to check our basement, in the summer it's always cooler down there, so that will likely be a good place to save up eggs! We have an old fuel oil furnace down there so in the winter it stays toasty down there and cooler on the main level of the house. I need to check the spare room, we don't heat it much so it might be a good spot early spring and late fall.

I want to hatch ALL next summer, like chicks EVERYWHERE! Lol I'm supposed to be selling hatching eggs and chicks next year. I'm excited!

 

[2ndTink]

So, so gorgeous! What is the one unnamed one with the brown on its wings? Is that going to be a partridge? It's so unique!!

I'm really not sure but I'm assuming he's partridge. He was a pale chipmunk chick compared to the others and now has the red leakage and a grey tail. He doesn't have very dark skin, my hubby really likes him ans wants to keep him but I'm not sure what I'd breed him to.

I've been posting him for sale locally along with the splash satin and the blue satin, but of course no interest.

 

[2ndTink]

I just want to cry when I see that. How sad of a life for those chickens.

I know some do it for breeding only, but we're doing 6'x8' outdoor pens with chicken hutches when we start up with breeding in Feb/March. If they had to be in cages, I wouldn't do it.

I know!!! They look so sad, especially when I know how full of character happy chickens are.

What do your chicken hutches look like? I have 3 coops but nothing set up for breeding yet. I've been thinking through different ideas.

 

[Debbie292d]

I know!!! They look so sad, especially when I know how full of character happy chickens are.

What do your chicken hutches look like? I have 3 coops but nothing set up for breeding yet. I've been thinking through different ideas.

He's only got the one built from this spring and basically, it's like a rabbit hutch. This one he made from a dog box I bought for $5 but he took it all apart and rebuilt it. It's that thing furthest away inside the aviary. I'll get a better picture of it, but basically, he made it so the front of it can swing up for cleaning, etc., and it's big enough for a cozy coop flat panel heater to go inside of it. This is the pen I spoke of we'll use early this spring but needs some winterizing yet. I ordered clear greenhouse tarps like what's on the right side of the aviary as those let more light in than the solid one on the left side.

This picture doesn't show it but there's now hardware cloth all around it.

 

[Debbie292d]

I'm really not sure but I'm assuming he's partridge. He was a pale chipmunk chick compared to the others and now has the red leakage and a grey tail. He doesn't have very dark skin, my hubby really likes him ans wants to keep him but I'm not sure what I'd breed him to.

I've been posting him for sale locally along with the splash satin and the blue satin, but of course no interest.

I am shocked you can't sell those as we're in sort of a remote area, 35 miles is the closest big city and I've done pretty well in the local FB poultry groups. I also get rid of leftover chicks at the poultry swaps. One swap is an hour away, and the other is about 20 minutes. You basically pay a fee ($10 for both of ours) to sell. They'll start up in the spring again so I'd try see if you have any around you. I bring a bottle of hand sanitizer and nobody touches my chicks though until they use it.

 

[2ndTink]

He's only got the one built from this spring and basically, it's like a rabbit hutch. This one he made from a dog box I bought for $5 but he took it all apart and rebuilt it. It's that thing furthest away inside the aviary. I'll get a better picture of it, but basically, he made it so the front of it can swing up for cleaning, etc., and it's big enough for a cozy coop flat panel heater to go inside of it. This is the pen I spoke of we'll use early this spring but needs some winterizing yet. I ordered clear greenhouse tarps like what's on the right side of the aviary as those let more light in than the solid one on the left side.

This picture doesn't show it but there's now hardware cloth all around it.


View attachment 3682514

I haven't ever added plastic around my runs, but I've noticed several people on here, and now yours too, with it and it looks like a good idea. We do get some bitter cold winds in the winter, and they are calling for a lot of snow this winter.

A small hutch with a cozy coop heater seems silkie appropriate. I have 2 of the heaters but they don't do much in the large coops.

 

[2ndTink]

I am shocked you can't sell those as we're in sort of a remote area, 35 miles is the closest big city and I've done pretty well in the local FB poultry groups. I also get rid of leftover chicks at the poultry swaps. One swap is an hour away, and the other is about 20 minutes. You basically pay a fee ($10 for both of ours) to sell. They'll start up in the spring again so I'd try see if you have any around you. I bring a bottle of hand sanitizer and nobody touches my chicks though until they use it.

I was trying to get good photos today to repost them. They may sell in the spring, they aren't in the way so they are welcome to keep flaunting their absolute cuteness around here all winter. More body heat for the coop

We have poultry swaps two Saturdays per month, I only went to one, all the roosters were being picked up for just a few bucks and being stuffed into one big cage in the back of a pickup. They were fighting and it was not pleasant to watch. It seemed the meat buyers got there and picked up all the cheap roos then left.

 

[2ndTink]

And, I got a little inspiration for Miss Marsha. She's a fancy girl, with high society tastes. Is she a mauve? She's gorgeous!



@Debbie292d

 

[TwoCrows]

And, I got a little inspiration for Miss Marsha. She's a fancy girl, with high society tastes. Is she a mauve? She's gorgeous!

View attachment 3682540

@Debbie292d

High society gal!

 

[Debbie292d]

And, I got a little inspiration for Miss Marsha. She's a fancy girl, with high society tastes. Is she a mauve? She's gorgeous!

View attachment 3682540

@Debbie292d

She's more a splash but I see what you mean. Maybe we'll have to change her from a splash to a mauve. Hot damn, that's awesome! Love it! Thank you!


This is her with the one we call mauve. This was when they were about 4 mos old.