Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
How well can they see? Consider trimming beards/crests, or tying up their crests.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Quote:
Yeppers. They were handled multiple times per day as much or maybe a teensy bit more than the other chicks we got at the same time - Delawares, RIRs, New Hamps, EEs, Wellies, but they're just a lot more standoffish than my other chickens. And the Silkies are the ones that the kids always want to handle because they're so tiny and cute, but nothing doin! They squawk bloody murder if anyone touches them.

Very frustrating. I'm contemplating selling them, and buying some chicks or eggs from a private breeder. I'm sure they're more interested in breeding for temperament (and hopefully some smarts too) than the hatcheries are. Honestly I think I could suffer their lack of intelligence better if they were friendly.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Quote:
Well, they're hatchery birds, so they don't have as much poofyness on top as some of the show Silkies I've seen. The picture below was taken about a month ago when I first started free ranging them.

I think they're a little more fluffy up top now, but I don't think they're fluffy enough to impair their vision, but I'll definitely try that! Thanks for the suggestion. Hadn't even considered that might be the problem.

 

[jen5680]

Quote:
Well, they're hatchery birds, so they don't have as much poofyness on top as some of the show Silkies I've seen. The picture below was taken about a month ago when I first started free ranging them.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/59655_silkie.jpg

I think they're a little more fluffy up top now, but I don't think they're fluffy enough to impair their vision, but I'll definitely try that! Thanks for the suggestion. Hadn't even considered that might be the problem.

They look like they don't have a problem seeing so the problem must be something else????

 

[featherbaby]

If you have your silkies mixed with the larger breeds, they may be reacting in fear/aggression to hold their own in the pecking order. If you put me in a room with a bunch of tough guys, I'd act tough to survive too.

If you can feed them treats by hand that will make them want to come to you and see you as 'safe' to approach. I suggest mealworms or pieces of bread....whatever they decide they can't resist.

These are generally the friendliest and sweetest temperments, I think it's odd that yours are not typical.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Quote:
Yeah, I checked them this evening, and it didn't appear as there was any fuzz covering their eyes.

 

[SilkieTime]

I agree with featherbaby and just try sitting with them for a while, let them come to you.
I want to show one of my new babies, I don't think he likes the flash LOL

"You can't come in here"

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Quote:
Well, I've never seen the other chickens picking on them. I really don't notice any jostling for pecking order either, but maybe they do that when I'm not around.

My RIR's who I had heard were aggressive are pretty good natured, and the Dels are probably the most outgoing. Just my luck to get atypical chickens.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Quote:
She is trying to learn how to "Fan Dance" or in this case "Feather Dance!!!"

 

[SilkieTime]

A few more babies