Silkie thread!

[LaPetiteFarmer]

I use this humidifier:
I really like it because I just add a little bottle of water and Voila! Pretty practical.

 

[aoxa]

I use this humidifier:
I really like it because I just add a little bottle of water and Voila! Pretty practical.

Oooo and it glows!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Just hatched this morning!!! Little Splash! If this does not give you hatching fever - nothing will!

Come on SPRING!!!

SO STINKING CUTE! Should be a calendar picture!

 

[CALI CHICK]

Feeling sooooo bad for my two peeps outside

It's -1F outside and will be getting down to -4F tonight, won't get over 11F for the rest of the week with wind chill of up to -30F!... My little silkie hen and polish roo are freezing their tushies off! I put some vaseline on my rooster's comb, waddles and legs and gave them a heat pack. I will have to reheat it though in a couple hours. It doesn't last very long. Found a new use for hen saddles though, keeping them warm!

warm and balmy 20 here in Virginia

14 this morning but it is snowing now must be a blanket of snow haha

Oh Wow! I will never complain about "cold" again. It occasionally gets down to 30* F here at night and I worry!!!

Obviously, the silkies are much hardier than I give them credit for. My silkie coop has a nice, thick layer of pine shavings on the floor, good siding and vinyl over the windows and doors (or a clear shower curtain) to block the wind. When I reach inside it's probably 60* where the silkies are cuddled together. But if I lived where it regularly dropped into the negatives I would probably run extension cords out to the coops and put a heat lamp inside.
I hope your silkies keep each other warm and toasty, Chicksnherps.

 

[Sanna]

Hilarious! I was thinking the same thing! When I used to breed miniature horses people would say miniature horses are like potato chips; you can't have just one. I think this goes for silkies also!

I think horses in general (and silkies) are like potato chips, can't have just one. lol I work on a large non-profit rescue farm. We have about 55 equines here at the moment.. Too many chips.

buy a coop big enough for 100 silkies..lol

Yes, I will agree with this advice! I need one myself.

Actually, we do have a coop on the property that would be big enough for a TON of silkies but the darn RIR's, EE's and other mixed hens are living in it.. How to talk the farm owner into letting me have that coop for my silkies???

Here he is with the turkeys.. before one of them tried to eat all his hair. Poor guy. '

He never complains though. Never seems bothered at all.

Must be something about those Polish roosters.. We had a WCB rooster also. The hens he lived with pecked the crap out of him almost every day, plucked all his head and tail feathers and he'd still act all macho, like nothing had ever happened.

First time they drew blood, rooster moved out. We didn't want him getting hurt.

Nebulizers are expensive and require a prescription; humidifiers are available at Target, Walmart, drug stores, etc., and are fairly inexpensive. Yes, nebulizers do a better job, but if you don't already have one, a humidifier i the best easy solution.

I did learn that the nebulizers are very costly after spending some time with my dear friend Google.

I'm taking a ride to Walmart after work. They seem to have the best prices for humidifiers. I'll get use out of it myself also. I get a bloody nose when the air gets really dry...or cold. Like now.

I use this humidifier:
I really like it because I just add a little bottle of water and Voila! Pretty practical.

That's one that I found online, a fair price also. Going shopping after work for one of these and Oxine will be here tomorrow. That stuff better work because I'm running out of ideas and I have sick chickies!

 

[aoxa]

Must be something about those Polish roosters.. We had a WCB rooster also. The hens he lived with pecked the crap out of him almost every day, plucked all his head and tail feathers and he'd still act all macho, like nothing had ever happened.

First time they drew blood, rooster moved out. We didn't want him getting hurt.

That's exactly it! He still thought he was all macho and manly. I have sprayed Blue Kote on his head one to many times. Poor guy. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the lack of company, and he's very tame. I really like him

 

[Keric]

Just hatched this morning!!! Little Splash! If this does not give you hatching fever - nothing will!

Come on SPRING!!!

I thought this picture looked familiar...saw your ad on craigslist! lol Super cute. I love the splah (hen?) in one of the pictures. She looks so hairy!

My silkies are 2 weeks old today. I'm having so much fun! They love mealworms! We just ordered a bunch thru the mail!

I already have a few sex guesses too! I'm writing my guesses down, the reasons I think they are boy/girl, and the date so I can learn for future hatches

 

[peepblessed]

I did try the spray bottle method, but it just got the silkies soaked and they shook their heads away from the spray. She took to the neb well because she couldn't feel it

BTW, were you the woman selling chicks at the show? My friend bought a white silkie chick from the top drawer but we forgot to ask how old it is, looks to be only a few days old.

What a great photo!

Hello!

I am really anxious to start my first flock of silkies in the next few months. I am on a wait list for chicks. There are so many posts on this thread, that it is overwhelming!

I do not want to ask questions that have already been answered, but I am not sure how to really find the answers to my questions.

1. I know the coop should be pretty low to the ground to avoid ramps. Also, roosting bars should be low. Any other coop suggestions?

2. How much space should I allow for a run? I plan to start with 6-8 chicks, but I know chicken math applies! Lol!

3. Any other newbie info?

I did create a thread over on the coop board but did not really get many responses.

Thanks in advance for your time and advice!

So excited!!!

I would build the biggest run you can afford. No one ever complains that their run is too big.

I have 3 Silkies and 3 Feather Pullets. I use the Booda Litter Box and they Love it....it's very convenient and portable, I leave it out in the yard while they're out to range. It's awesome because I haven't had to worry about them finding a hiding spot to lay their eggs...I plan on getting a couple more due to the fact they stand in line or barge in on one another to lay. Haaaa

I love this!!

I have two silkies and they both roost and the hen uses the nesting box. Most of the time she uses the nesting box to be broody in but she does put her eggs in there too. I have a tray under my roost which is about a foot above the tray with a ramp going up to it. The silkies flap and scramble their way up but they do it every night. Granted I have lots of other breeds of "normal" chickens to show them the way. Not that silkies aren't normal, their just...special. I love my silkies and can't wait to get another.

Best of luck with yours!!!!

That's funny that your LF are training your silkies to roost. I have a young EE pullet in with my silkie flock and they have taught her to pile. She's always on the bottom.

Just hatched this morning!!! Little Splash! If this does not give you hatching fever - nothing will!

Come on SPRING!!!

Too cute for words!!

i'm getting my first silkies on the 1st. I ordered 2 blue ones. Anything special i should know?

Here's the info I give my chick buyers.

There are a few things that make Silkies unique from other chickens. First of course is that they have silkied feathers which are beautiful and wonderful to pet, but they don’t shed water and so they should not be allowed out in the rain when it's cold or in a pen where the rain can blow in on them. Second - Quality Silkies have large crests that can become a visibility and an irritation problem usually around 10 weeks. I trim above and especially below the eyes with baby nail scissors. Look for feathers that curl into the eye. It is not difficult and only needs to be done about every 3 months. Third - Silkies have a tender head as they do not have a hard skull. They should be protected from things like a peck on the head from a larger breed chicken. Also, if startled they will sometimes fly straight up in the air and because they can’t see above them they can hit a sharp edge or corner of wood, etc. This can cause a serious head injury. Keep this in mind when designing their pen. Thin foam can be added to the edge of a board if you think it’s in an unsafe place in their pen. Fourth - Most Silkies do not roost. They prefer to sleep in a big pile. They most likely will not climb a narrow ramp without training.

I find that holding my Silkies on a towel while I watch TV is the best way to tame them. They all quickly fall asleep in your lap at every age while you pet them.

Yes. You'll have a ton more in no time!

Too true!

Feeling sooooo bad for my two peeps outside

It's -1F outside and will be getting down to -4F tonight, won't get over 11F for the rest of the week with wind chill of up to -30F!... My little silkie hen and polish roo are freezing their tushies off! I put some vaseline on my rooster's comb, waddles and legs and gave them a heat pack. I will have to reheat it though in a couple hours. It doesn't last very long. Found a new use for hen saddles though, keeping them warm!

Are you sure the saddle helps. I know that chickens keep warm by fluffing their feathers. Just a thought...

That's exactly it! He still thought he was all macho and manly. I have sprayed Blue Kote on his head one to many times. Poor guy. He doesn't seem to be bothered by the lack of company, and he's very tame. I really like him

Do you have to worry about frostbite on the combs?

 

[peepblessed]

Have to share my newly hatched self-blues. I'm so in love!!

 

[aoxa]

Do you have to worry about frostbite on the combs?

If proper ventilation is provided, no. I have some big honking combs too


Not even a hint of frost bite detected.

It's how I roll. Lots of ventilation. No insulation. No heat lamps.



Silkies are in the pen to the left of this photo until I can get them separated for breeding season. My big barred rocks have mated my silkie hen.. as did a big NN rooster.

Scares me.. Don't want them getting hurt.