Silkie thread!

[Tikkijane]

I hadn't had chickens for about 18 years, then started up again. I had never hatched or brooded them inside either. My first hatch of 5 Black Copper Marans were about a week old. I hadn't left the house since they had hatched, but had to go to town that day. Walked into the brooder room when I returned, and there were all 5, laying on their sides, one foot up in the air, and wings stretched out!

Evidently, I let out a rather loud, "OMG"!! and scared the daylights out of them all! They all jumped to their feet, with eyes the size of pie pans! I now recognize the schnoozing posture...

That's what we call a crash pile.

They do look like they're dead though, don't they? We always laugh when they are little and drop where they are, even if it's in the food.......

 

[Tikkijane]

I have Marans as well, and would not put them together. The Marans will, even if not on purpose, manage to hurt the silkies just by the fact that they are bigger, & weight more. Silkies don't roost. And if you have a Marans rooster, it will most likely squish a silkie trying to breed it. I wouldn't take that chance.

Mine actually are. I don't know what they'll do outside, but they all sleep on the lower roost at night now. I wouldn't say it's 100% of the time (and they are still young, so they can still completely see), but they are right up there with the other chicks. Fwiw.

 

[Tikkijane]

all the pics!!

 

[ChickensXOXO]

Where do you guys order shipping boxes for the silkies? I only need 1, and most sites require you buy more than one.

 

[peepblessed]

Where do you guys order shipping boxes for the silkies? I only need 1, and most sites require you buy more than one.

This place has great prices but shipping on one box is high because it's over sized. http://www.poultrysupplies.com/index_files/Page723.html

 

[Sanna]

From the one picture :
Looks to have good foot feathering
Really nice tight proper wings
a nice curve to the chest

Her shade of blue is actually I think is in the 'standard range' - look at other breeds that are blue...they are a medium to darkish blue (but not to be confused with black, which I can't see how anyone could confuse this girl with black - shes definitely a blue)


Color isn't as even as it should be - should be a more even shade across the body, she has the dark head/hackles and lighter body.
Crest and cushion should be fuller The cushion/tail coud just be the fact shes outside and not 'in condition' or hasn't been primped. I have some that from being outside and dirt bathing their tails go 'flat' and to look nice I have to fluff it out for them. lol

I agree shes a breeder worthy bird, but its always hard to tell from a picture. I would not call her SQ, the overall type as I said is lacking, she COULD be show but she wouldn't win against a bird with a larger crest and fuller typier curves overall.

Good. Everything I thought of, you guys are confirming! lol So I'm on the right tracks!
Lila's cushion is a little bit flat from not being all primped up, but I agree that it could be much fuller. Same with her crest.

For her color. I think she's molting? I don't remember her always being so "raggedy" looking.

For me to improve on this bird, I would want to breed her to a rooster with more fluff and type, right?

 

[ChickensXOXO]

This place has great prices but shipping on one box is high because it's over sized. http://www.poultrysupplies.com/index_files/Page723.html

Thanks. We decided to use a larger box (she has on hand), so I can get my new boy before the heat gets worse.

 

[mama2my4]

hey y'all. I have a lot of catching up to do in my reading here, lol!

We have had a rough week. Wednesday we had to drive 3 hours to take my little girl to see her surgeon. Before we left, I went out to the coop and found my blue girl not doing very well. I brought her in and put her in isolation. She was about the same when we got home so I gave her some sav-a-chick. She didn't make it through the night. She was about 5 months old and she is the first we have lost.



That day, my two boxes of chicks arrived a day early. So, although they don't replace her, at least they were a good distraction for me. I am glad I ordered a few blues....



So now I am quite overrun with little peeps!!! And having the time of my life. I have blue, black, splash and paint babies. I can't wait to watch them all grow up and see what I have!

 

[mama2my4]

Thanks. We decided to use a larger box (she has on hand), so I can get my new boy before the heat gets worse.

YEAAH!!!

 

[ChickensXOXO]

hey y'all. I have a lot of catching up to do in my reading here, lol!

We have had a rough week. Wednesday we had to drive 3 hours to take my little girl to see her surgeon. Before we left, I went out to the coop and found my blue girl not doing very well. I brought her in and put her in isolation. She was about the same when we got home so I gave her some sav-a-chick. She didn't make it through the night. She was about 5 months old and she is the first we have lost.



That day, my two boxes of chicks arrived a day early. So, although they don't replace her, at least they were a good distraction for me. I am glad I ordered a few blues....



So now I am quite overrun with little peeps!!! And having the time of my life. I have blue, black, splash and paint babies. I can't wait to watch them all grow up and see what I have!

Again, sorry about your pullet. Is that her in the top picture?
Kind of looks like streamers coming from her crest??

And congratulations on the new chicks!!!