Silkie Thread! Talk about your Silkies and post pics of your Silkies

[fishermum]

Hello All!
I am new to silkies--this is only my 2nd year keeping them, but I have become addicted!
This spring I got a pair of year old hens from a friend of a friend (one black, one white) because I thought my hatchery blue/spalsh/calico (or mutt as I call him) roo would like some lady friends (sadly the roo was the only one that survived out of the three I had last year).

The black hen got broody, and I couldn't seem to break her of it so I thought why not? and let her sit on 4 eggs (two of hers and two of the white hen's).
This was just an experiment, and I didn't expect much to come of it but yesterday I got the best surprise! Two of the eggs had hatched!

Here is a pic of mum and one of the chicks. I tried to get a better pic, but she wasn't too happy with me poking around. The other chick has the same colouring. Will these guys grow up to be black?
Also, are they OK with mum in the henhouse? I'd rather leave them in with her than bring them inside and put them in a brooder...

Thanks for putting up with my silkie ignorance! I'm learning a lot here though

 

[featherz]

My silkies look like major scruffnuggets right now (yes, that's a word.. to me anyways.

). How long before they turn into floofballs? (another word).

They are coming up on three weeks old. Look at these poor babies!

Poor things look like they went through a lawnmower.

Also, what color is the middle one? Is that splash? S/he is mostly a yellowish white with the feathers coming in a very light blue-ish color.

 

[featherbaby]

Scruffnuggets and floofballs???????? Now THAT'S funny!!!!!!

 

[SilkieTime]

Broody's Broodello, I think you really need a rest and get away. When you do come by this way I would like some white chicks. Please

 

[jen5680]

How many pictures are we aloud to put on this thread??? LOL!! I am silkie crazy!! Going to be doing my first show at Lucasville
and I am so excited!! I might get laughed out of the place but I will have a blast!! ( I hope lol) I am hopeing to meet some of
you other silkie lovers at the show. anyone on this thread going ?? Brody I no you are. LOL!

 

[flgardengirl]

I have a question for silkie keepers. I just set my first batch of 38 silkie eggs and am thinking ahead on how I will be designing thier new coop. Do you all have your nesting boxes low to the ground since they can't fly well? About how high should I place them? Do you put in any low roosting perches or just leave them out all together? Thanks

 

[jen5680]

Quote:
Well mine don't perch so I don't worry about that and i put all my nest boxes about 6 inches off the ground.
Now if they would jsut learn to actually go in the nest box to lay the egg and not next to it or behind it or
in the middle of the floor. LOL!!

 

[Tropical Chickies]

Quote:
Great questions. I am interested to know too!

 

[revolutionmama]

Some of RevolutionMama's juvenile gang of Lavender Silkies - this batch turned out wonderful, made Mama proud

 

[racuda]

Quote:
Definitely leave them with the hen. She can do a much better job raising them, and it is a lot easier too! And I would call that chick "blue".