Silkie thread!

[RareBreedFancier]

Colie <3 :

Quote:
A paint would not have dark feathers "here and there," but rather has patches of dark feathers. I believe feathersite has comparison photos between splash and paint.

In my head that's what I was envisioning the poster meant that there was patches of dark feathers but now I read again I see what you are pointing out and agree

Thanks for the replies, now I need to look up those pics.

I will take some pics of it, I think some of the black feathers are in patches so now I'll defiantly have to check if that is the case.

EDIT: Found the pics, mine looks like the paint. Not at all like the splash. Must get pics in the morning.

 

[NewToFarming]

I had posted this in the emergencies & disease forum but I haven't gotten a response and I though maybe you silkie gurus can help me??? I have a 10 week old silkie/brown leghorn pullet that suddenly loss the use of her left leg, seems to be from the hock down and her toes are folding in together, not really curling. I at first was thinking she might have hurt it and brought her inside to rest it. Friday morning she was fine and when I came home from work, she had lost the use of that leg. He seems bright, happy, eating well, normal poo and no pain. I don't see any obvious breaks or anything like that.
I have her on chick starter and supplement daily with polyvisol added to moistened chick feed. Any ideas? Her scales look ok on her legs but I did have the feeling of creepy crawlies on me when I held her. I can't see anything on her at all. Do you think it could be mites and not an injury?? She is the only one showing these symptoms and I am attaching pictures...thanks!!!

 

[Teresaann24]

Quote:
It's looks like its due to lack of protein what are you feeding her?

 

[waitin on eggs]

Hello Everyone, I was wondering if you could all give me some input and help on deciding. I live in North Western Pennsylvania and we have some pretty cold and snowy winters here, I currently have cold hardy breeds and I am really interested and am wanting to get some silkies, however I am worried about the winter months and how they would do in the cold and snow. Do you give them heat in the winter and what other precautions or special care is needed, or if I just shouldn't get them? I really love them but I also don't want to be worried about them in the winter months and certainly would not want to lose any. Any advice would be great. Thank you for your time ~ Michelle

 

[HHandbasket]

My first silkies should be hatching one week from today! We candled last night because we have had some temp fluctuations & I wanted to check on everybody. All 7 silkie eggs appear to have healthy chicks in them so I am hopeful for a better hatch this time.

Is there any special care for silkie chicks that I need to know about before these little boogers are born??? One of my girlfriends (a chicken person) rolls her eyes at me when I talk about getting silkies. She calls them "the French poodles of chickens".

 

[chickendales]

Quote:
mine do good with heated waters and draft free barn my chickens dont go out side in the winter

 

[chickendales]

columbain silkies what can i breed to them if i cant find more columbains

 

[NewToFarming]

Quote:
It's looks like its due to lack of protein what are you feeding her?

I have her on chick starter and I give treats like eggs, yogurt, oatmeal, scratch and she loves moistened chick feed. I add polyvisol to the treats or moistened chick feed daily. None of my other chicks or older chickens are having any of these symptoms. I did see a moving dot on my hand after wrapping her feet to see if I can get her more upright. I don't know if it was a mite or lice??? It did come on suddenly too. I will giver her more eggs too. I scrambled some this morning for her and I will also see if she likes hard boiled.
I am going to treat with Sevin dust now.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Quote:
Could it be a Vitamin B2 deficiency? http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/217/vitamin-b2-deficiency

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Quote:
We only have a small number of Silkies but on cold nights, they're fine with their body-heat. Same during the day. Our coop is tight and dry, but unheated, and there have been no issues.

We also don't provide a heated waterer. But because of that, I know that I may have to check a few times per day to make sure the water has not frozen. I tend to take the waterers out at night so I'm not breaking thick ice in the morning.

That said, our Silkies have done better than some of our 'cold hardy' chickens in the layer coop with season.