Silkie thread!

[alliandme]

What type of coops are best for show silkies? I wanted to build a raised one, but some say that they don't go up ramps.

 

[In0gra7946]

#edited, Had to remove.. having trouble posting properly.

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
Show silkies if you actually plan to show them keeping them in pens like a rabbit hutch either wire floors or deep litter shavings works well. If breeding pens - indoor or sheltered set up's do best, they don't do well in rain or snow because of the way their plumage/feathering is, it can't shed water and they can get soaked through (like our regular clothes do in rain) and are known to get a chill and die if they get too cold from being wet. - also with the crests they are very vulnerable and a sheltered top to keep them protected from flying predators is important. As well as whites are known to sunburn in direct sunlight, and their feathers turn a yellowed color (which will mean you can't show a good bird if it gets sunburned).

put you a roof on your run, and have your coop on the ground or the entrance only be 6-10" off the ground, and a long ramp with very gradual incline. my silkie coops are set up on plain wooden pallets, so they are about 4-5" off the ground, most of mine just hop up, (the ones who don't have large crests) the others I bought as grown ups it took them a week or two to get the hang of the ramp going in and out the door, but once they did get the idea they had no issues. My ramp is as wide as my chicken doorway about 12" wide, which helps so they don't fear falling off.

 

[workinnanie]

Quote:
EU brooding hen color lavender (self-blue) or pearlgray
Genetic-code E/E S/- (or s+/-) lav/lav
http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/3391/gponeggs.jpg

It is funny & lovely!

 

[alliandme]

Quote:
Show silkies if you actually plan to show them keeping them in pens like a rabbit hutch either wire floors or deep litter shavings works well. If breeding pens - indoor or sheltered set up's do best, they don't do well in rain or snow because of the way their plumage/feathering is, it can't shed water and they can get soaked through (like our regular clothes do in rain) and are known to get a chill and die if they get too cold from being wet. - also with the crests they are very vulnerable and a sheltered top to keep them protected from flying predators is important. As well as whites are known to sunburn in direct sunlight, and their feathers turn a yellowed color (which will mean you can't show a good bird if it gets sunburned).

put you a roof on your run, and have your coop on the ground or the entrance only be 6-10" off the ground, and a long ramp with very gradual incline. my silkie coops are set up on plain wooden pallets, so they are about 4-5" off the ground, most of mine just hop up, (the ones who don't have large crests) the others I bought as grown ups it took them a week or two to get the hang of the ramp going in and out the door, but once they did get the idea they had no issues. My ramp is as wide as my chicken doorway about 12" wide, which helps so they don't fear falling off.

Thanks, exreamly helpful!
I have to have it raised, if its outdoors to keep them cool (Very hot summers) and dry (Raining most of the year) I might be able to put them in a shed, and lay down turf for there forage when they're not outside. Would they be okay with a 1-2ft raised pen?

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
if the coop and pen all together (like a rabbit hutch or similar) was all off the ground thats fine. I have my youngsters in a big rabbit hutch that sits 4' off the ground, and then during the day I just let them in their ground pen to play right now since they are winter teenagers.

If your talking about just the house/coop off the ground you could do 1' off the ground, or even 18" off the ground, but be warned if your starting with teenage or adult birds your going to need a really long and wide ramp for them and lots of patience. I gave up on the taller coop a few days ago when my 2 new big crested girls just can't understand the ramp and freak. I chopped it down to about 8" off the ground and they are finally getting the hang of the ramp. I still have to help show them the idea of up and down the ramp, but tonight they both actually made it up with the others on their own. whoot! If your starting out with youngsters that haven't developed a large crest yet, they should pretty quickly learn the ramp and remember it their entire lives.

 

[boxofchirpers]

Silkies are the best.
im glad they are my choice of chicken to raise.

 

[stoopid]

boxofchirpers,

from Long Island!

 

[Tripp16]

Hi everyone! Ok so I hatched 8 new silkie chicks! They will be a week tomorrow and theyre starting to grow wing feathers in. I thought silkies didnt have wing feathers? Just fluff. Im wondering if this is normal? Im pretty sure theyre good silkies because they man I got the eggs from showed me the parents. But I didnt check the wings.

So again my question is "Is it a quality silkie if they grow wing feathers??"

I will post pics later.

Thanks!

 

[Jx2inNC]

I believe this one originated from a hatchery, so I'm surprised the top hat and all looks as full as it does (from my experience).