Silkie saga

[TwoCrows]

Fizz Bang was a very naughty boy this morning. He took flogging me very seriously, and Foxxy means well but is not understanding her role in this situation I called her over and she totally ignored Fizz, thinks I'm going to pet her and when I don't she just runs off again. So, not working out like I thought it would he doesn't attack if I have something in my hands, so I guess I just need to carry around a feed bag all the time, stinking rooster. Lol!

Bad boy Fizz Bang, this is NOT good behavior! I have carried a broom around with me, one of the wide corn bristle types. This usually keeps them sedate. And this way I can sweep bad boys away if they come after me. I hope he isn't going to go really bad on you!

 

[2ndTink]

Bad boy Fizz Bang, this is NOT good behavior! I have carried a broom around with me, one of the wide corn bristle types. This usually keeps them sedate. And this way I can sweep bad boys away if they come after me. I hope he isn't going to go really bad on you!

So far even if I carry a small stick he behaves, so I guess I just need to keep toting around something to save my ankles. Even with boots on, those kicks smart a bit!

I tried to list all the chicks by color and feather type tonight. I'm not sure it's 100% accurate but I think there are 6 satin's and 10 silkies. I'm really excited because the last chick to hatch I think is a black and it's silkied, now I really really hope it's a pullet!!! It's really growing on me, it likes to sleep in my hand if I pick it up. Which likely means it's a cockerel... haha. The black split to chocolate looks to be a frizzled silkie, which it would be a cocokerel. Now we'll see if my husband insists on keeping it or not. If I do breed my silkies, I'm not shooting to breed frizzles.

I found one tonight that had it's 5th toe folded under its foot and was walking on it. I gave it a little tape boot, it's back most toe on each foot is really large. It was not easy to straighten it out and it seems a bit miserable with the boot, but I'm hoping it will be much better by tomorrow. It's been laying slightly on it side with its foot twisted out a bit. From walking on its toe it seems to have rolled the whole foot out. I hope it's not too late to help correct it. The first one I taped, you can't tell bow that it ever had any issues, thankfully!

 

[TwoCrows]

So far even if I carry a small stick he behaves, so I guess I just need to keep toting around something to save my ankles. Even with boots on, those kicks smart a bit!

I tried to list all the chicks by color and feather type tonight. I'm not sure it's 100% accurate but I think there are 6 satin's and 10 silkies. I'm really excited because the last chick to hatch I think is a black and it's silkied, now I really really hope it's a pullet!!! It's really growing on me, it likes to sleep in my hand if I pick it up. Which likely means it's a cockerel... haha. The black split to chocolate looks to be a frizzled silkie, which it would be a cocokerel. Now we'll see if my husband insists on keeping it or not. If I do breed my silkies, I'm not shooting to breed frizzles.

I found one tonight that had it's 5th toe folded under its foot and was walking on it. I gave it a little tape boot, it's back most toe on each foot is really large. It was not easy to straighten it out and it seems a bit miserable with the boot, but I'm hoping it will be much better by tomorrow. It's been laying slightly on it side with its foot twisted out a bit. From walking on its toe it seems to have rolled the whole foot out. I hope it's not too late to help correct it. The first one I taped, you can't tell bow that it ever had any issues, thankfully!

Wow, this must be so exciting for you, all the colors and such! This will no doubt be a fun journey for you doing this breeding program. I am excited for you!

Why is it the cockerels seem to be the sweetest things as babies?! Not always though, the girls can be friendly too. I've gotten so disappointed when my "Henriettas" turned into big ol brute "Henrys".

Oh no on the curled toe! I think vitamin deficiencies in the parents can cause this, and or incubator issues can cause it too. I can't remember if it's temp or humidity troubles, I can do some research on it though. I hope the little guy will be ok!

Well it's Friday! Do you have to work this weekend or can you lounge around with the chickies?

 

[2ndTink]

Wow, this must be so exciting for you, all the colors and such! This will no doubt be a fun journey for you doing this breeding program. I am excited for you!

Why is it the cockerels seem to be the sweetest things as babies?! Not always though, the girls can be friendly too. I've gotten so disappointed when my "Henriettas" turned into big ol brute "Henrys".

Oh no on the curled toe! I think vitamin deficiencies in the parents can cause this, and or incubator issues can cause it too. I can't remember if it's temp or humidity troubles, I can do some research on it though. I hope the little guy will be ok!

Well it's Friday! Do you have to work this weekend or can you lounge around with the chickies?

I taped the little ones toe, it was just the back toe that it was walking on, it really hasn't liked the boot. I just got home and took it off, it's not putting weight on that foot, it's holding its leg out just like it did with the boot on. I'm hoping it will settle out and learn to put weight on it again. It honestly is getting around worse now than it was when it was walking on its toe.

I think any issues are my fault, I don't think it would be genetic or nutrition. The breeder seemed super passionate about the birds.

 

[TwoCrows]

I taped the little ones toe, it was just the back toe that it was walking on, it really hasn't liked the boot. I just got home and took it off, it's not putting weight on that foot, it's holding its leg out just like it did with the boot on. I'm hoping it will settle out and learn to put weight on it again. It honestly is getting around worse now than it was when it was walking on its toe.

I think any issues are my fault, I don't think it would be genetic or nutrition. The breeder seemed super passionate about the birds.

Oh poor little guy! I would have wrapped it too, I think you did the right thing to try and fix the toe.

I did some research and crooked or bent toes can result from many issues from incubator temp and humidity fluctuations, excessive moving around in the incubator, genetic/nutritional issues, position of chick before hatching, to improper storage of eggs before hand. They also say that its common in 5 out of 100 chicks. So I don't think you could really track down what exactly caused this situation in your batch and you may see it occasionally in future hatches.

This said, chickens can overcome all sorts of handicaps and many out grow them to live very good lives. You probably don't want to use this chick in your breeding program, give him time though, he will probably make a full recovery.

 

[2ndTink]

Oh poor little guy! I would have wrapped it too, I think you did the right thing to try and fix the toe.

I did some research and crooked or bent toes can result from many issues from incubator temp and humidity fluctuations, excessive moving around in the incubator, genetic/nutritional issues, position of chick before hatching, to improper storage of eggs before hand. They also say that its common in 5 out of 100 chicks. So I don't think you could really track down what exactly caused this situation in your batch and you may see it occasionally in future hatches.

This said, chickens can overcome all sorts of handicaps and many out grow them to live very good lives. You probably don't want to use this chick in your breeding program, give him time though, he will probably make a full recovery.

I hope so, I'm feeling horrible about it I know they can manage through a lot though.

 

[TwoCrows]

I hope so, I'm feeling horrible about it I know they can manage through a lot though.

You didn't do anything wrong! You were only trying to help, I would have done the same thing! Let the little guy rest and let me know how he is tomorrow.

 

[2ndTink]

You didn't do anything wrong! You were only trying to help, I would have done the same thing! Let the little guy rest and let me know how he is tomorrow.

Thanks, I just wanted to unfold its little toe. I hope it recovers.

On a more fun note, here is Base doing her deep cleaning dirt bath again. She's so cute, she really gets into her bathing!




Tomorrow we are going to a small animal sale an hour or so away, my husband thinks we can sell the silkie cockerels there for a lot of money, he's more optimistic than I am. But, tomorrow we are just going to check things out to see how they go and what we'd need to do to take them there. So if the run tomorrow is successful, we're going to burn 6 or 7 gallons of gas (maybe more ) for a second time to try and sell these little crowers for... 5 or 10 bucks a piece? Won't even pay for gas I was going to do craigslist, but he wants to do the sale in case someone with a lot of money might come by and want them.

 

[TwoCrows]

Thanks, I just wanted to unfold its little toe. I hope it recovers.

On a more fun note, here is Base doing her deep cleaning dirt bath again. She's so cute, she really gets into her bathing!

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Tomorrow we are going to a small animal sale an hour or so away, my husband thinks we can sell the silkie cockerels there for a lot of money, he's more optimistic than I am. But, tomorrow we are just going to check things out to see how they go and what we'd need to do to take them there. So if the run tomorrow is successful, we're going to burn 6 or 7 gallons of gas (maybe more ) for a second time to try and sell these little crowers for... 5 or 10 bucks a piece? Won't even pay for gas I was going to do craigslist, but he wants to do the sale in case someone with a lot of money might come by and want them.

Aww....Base is a beauty! ❤ I am always fascinated how white birds can get so filthy in a dust bath and clean up bright white!! I have obviously never kept white birds. How do they do it!

Good luck at the sale tomorrow!! You never know, maybe you will get a big sale, and if nothing else you can unload extra cockerels. I will be keeping my fingers crossed you make big money! Have fun tomorrow!

 

[2ndTink]

Aww....Base is a beauty! ❤ I am always fascinated how white birds can get so filthy in a dust bath and clean up bright white!! I have obviously never kept white birds. How do they do it!

Good luck at the sale tomorrow!! You never know, maybe you will get a big sale, and if nothing else you can unload extra cockerels. I will be keeping my fingers crossed you make big money! Have fun tomorrow!

I have several pure white and a few more mostly white chickens. One pure white one is an EE named Cream Puff, she is sometimes white, sometimes clay mud red, and sometimes has incriminating yellow on her face from eating an egg .

I had to use a frying pan (retired from the kitchen and now a chicken treat pan) to block Fizz to get out of one of the coops this morning. He's such a pain, I'm looking forward to selling the cockerels and locking him back up

We didn't make it to the sale, so maybe next time. But now we're heading to the track this afternoon to watch bro in laws horse race, it's a couple hours away, they just let us know this morning.

I got some chick photos this morning, posting shortly!