Silkie thread!

[OneCrazyCowgirl]

Thanks Looks like I'll probably get two silkies to go in with my rejected ones. You see, I bought a Light Brahma and an Easter Egger, and they were rejected by the layers (drew blood... multiple times.) along with a few new ones for the layers when we get a bigger coop

No problem. You are gonna love silkies! So adorable when babies, then they go through an ugly stage but don't worry, they'll be beautiful again xD
Here is mine at his ugly stage. Oh boy xD





Hope you have fun with the Silkies!
And I know your pain. Except its reversed! I have some EEs that are bullys to my layers!

 

[Drew Dizzle]

Here is my Buff Silkie (Sophia)

 

[Sanna]

New silkie owner here. Just got me some new babes. Addicted already?? Very possible!

Trust me, all it takes is ONE Silkie and you're done!

Cute babies.

Got a question for those that show. I've been showing belgian bearded d'uccles and old english game bantams and just bought a show quality silkie pullet. She is blue, but way darker than the pics I've seen here. She looks black except in strong light. Is that good, bad, or of no concern as far as showing ?

I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing but it would be good for me because I need a dark blue hen for my splash cockerel to breed to.

 

[Gagirly]

I spent a lot for this one. She's a beautiful bird. I'm taking her to her first show a week from today. Interested to see how she does.

 

[appps]

I live nnear death valley and our summer temperatures are mostly 100 F   to 115 F.  The Silkies pant a lot just like the other chickens. I keep shallow pans of water in their runs. They learn that wetting their feet cools them.  Also the like it when the sand is wet so the dirt baths cool them also. Shade spots is a must also. 

I want one with feet like that!


I spray the dirt with cold water, if they want to take a dust bath I'm hoping it cools them down. Just makes a mess with wet dirt, but hey. If it keeps them cool! lol
I also feed them cold treats like frozen vegetables and watermelon. They LOOOVE those!  Shade is of course important.
I read here on the forum, might have been this summer, people had little misters in their pens for their silkies. Apparently you can find them at a hardware store. I don't have one of those but it sounds like a pretty neat idea. If I had a setup that worked, I'd try it. I did try to mist them with a hose but the chickens didn't think it was such a great idea.  lol
Good luck! Wish it was that warm here in Connecticut. We are FREEZING!!

Thanks. I'm a bit concerned because these Are unusually hot days. So far we have been sitting more in the low 30's so 40 is a scorcher out of the blue. I've come across threads where people talk about loosing birds from breeds that don't do so well in the heat. Wondered if all that fluff allowed them to cool better or kept them hot

I've been reading a bit about the sprinklers. I thought I might try setting up something using garden watering system misters. Suspect they probably use more water though?

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Quote: That's what she does, tucks her head between her legs and walks backward. I will put her on the poly and vit-e again and see if it will improve some more.

New silkie owner here. Just got me some new babes. Addicted already?? Very possible!

Yay, do you know what colors these will be? Looks like Buff, Partridge, and Porcelain/White?

 

[Mumsy]

New silkie owner here. Just got me some new babes. Addicted already?? Very possible!

Cutie patootie babies.

 

[ChicksNherps]

Got a question for those that show. I've been showing belgian bearded d'uccles and old english game bantams and just bought a show quality silkie pullet. She is blue, but way darker than the pics I've seen here. She looks black except in strong light. Is that good, bad, or of no concern as far as showing ?

dark blue is fine. they come in different shades. Also, you do not want to shine your silkies like you would normal feathered breeds. I blow dry mine after bathing, i bathe a day or two before showing.

 

[Gagirly]

Thanks for the advice ! What do you do to prep them before having to cage them for judging ? With my d'uccles, I check for dirty feet, smooth their feathers out, put Vetrx on theor legs, combs and beak, and spray them with Pink's. I know not to use the spray on silkies, but is there anything else I might want to do ?

 

[ChicksNherps]

Thanks for the advice ! What do you do to prep them before having to cage them for judging ? With my d'uccles, I check for dirty feet, smooth their feathers out, put Vetrx on theor legs, combs and beak, and spray them with Pink's. I know not to use the spray on silkies, but is there anything else I might want to do ?

Bring baby wipes to clean their feet and bums for poo or dirt, DO NOT leave the water in there after coop in time, if they get their crest wet a judge will place them last if at all. Bring a wire slicker brush and fluff them up, put vetrx on their combs/beaks and whatever bare leg you can see, also a few drops down the throat will help prevent illness.

for shampoo when you bathe them, a lot of people suggest just using dawn, but I have found that baby shampoo works great! It makes them smell so good and really cleans them well. I scrub my silkies pretty well since you don't have to worry about broken feathers (except wing feathers)