Silkie thread!

[RockerHen]

Me holding the Macho man himself today. Even being all flustered from being caught, he manages to poke out his chest

In other news....Houston, we have a broody. At first I thought she was sick because today was a free range day, but she remained in the dogloo, kind of standing around being very quiet and subdued. This evening when I made my evening rounds, I noticed her laying down, all flattened out. As I have had many broody hens before, I recognized this sign. But she wasn't sitting on any eggs. She was sitting beside the day's egg collection. I stuck my hand under her to move her, and she pecked me, another sure sign, so I placed the eggs that were beside her under her. She immediately began shifting back and forth and settling on them, and I heard the calling card of broodies: the steady, soft, cluck, cluck, cluck. So I am faced with a dilemma. She has 4 eggs under her. I have 10 eggs in the incubator on day 12. I have a few options. Discard the 4 eggs under her, and replace them with the incubator eggs (I greatly prefer hen hatching than incubator hatching), put something under her to keep her broody until the eggs hatch, then fostering the chicks under her, or let both sets hatch. I don't really want fourteen chicks, so I don't think I'll hatch both. Other option. Do you guys think changing the incubator eggs to the broody would be too stressful on the embryos? I don't know if they've become accustomed to the incubator or something . I just wish the hen could do the last half of the incubation, as that's when I've had the most trouble with incubators and most success with hens, and I want to give these little embryos the best chance possible. Thoughts?

Broodiness is very becoming on this hen. She's actually not one of my not one of my best girls. But being broody has seemed to improve her crest and tail, at least to me!
Here she is non-broody.

 

[ChicksNherps]

Me holding the Macho man himself today. Even being all flustered from being caught, he manages to poke out his chest

In other news....Houston, we have a broody. At first I thought she was sick because today was a free range day, but she remained in the dogloo, kind of standing around being very quiet and subdued. This evening when I made my evening rounds, I noticed her laying down, all flattened out. As I have had many broody hens before, I recognized this sign. But she wasn't sitting on any eggs. She was sitting beside the day's egg collection. I stuck my hand under her to move her, and she pecked me, another sure sign, so I placed the eggs that were beside her under her. She immediately began shifting back and forth and settling on them, and I heard the calling card of broodies: the steady, soft, cluck, cluck, cluck. So I am faced with a dilemma. She has 4 eggs under her. I have 10 eggs in the incubator on day 12. I have a few options. Discard the 4 eggs under her, and replace them with the incubator eggs (I greatly prefer hen hatching than incubator hatching), put something under her to keep her broody until the eggs hatch, then fostering the chicks under her, or let both sets hatch. I don't really want fourteen chicks, so I don't think I'll hatch both. Other option. Do you guys think changing the incubator eggs to the broody would be too stressful on the embryos? I don't know if they've become accustomed to the incubator or something . I just wish the hen could do the last half of the incubation, as that's when I've had the most trouble with incubators and most success with hens, and I want to give these little embryos the best chance possible. Thoughts?

Broodiness is very becoming on this hen. She's actually not one of my not one of my best girls. But being broody has seemed to improve her crest and tail, at least to me!
Here she is non-broody.

I think she is very pretty with her little bonnet

 

[peepblessed]

Interview with MC&M, I look terrible haha

http://www.mychickensandme.com/2012/12/interview-kayla-douglas-animal-therapy-volunteer/

Really great interview!! Thanks for sharing!

Me holding the Macho man himself today. Even being all flustered from being caught, he manages to poke out his chest

In other news....Houston, we have a broody. At first I thought she was sick because today was a free range day, but she remained in the dogloo, kind of standing around being very quiet and subdued. This evening when I made my evening rounds, I noticed her laying down, all flattened out. As I have had many broody hens before, I recognized this sign. But she wasn't sitting on any eggs. She was sitting beside the day's egg collection. I stuck my hand under her to move her, and she pecked me, another sure sign, so I placed the eggs that were beside her under her. She immediately began shifting back and forth and settling on them, and I heard the calling card of broodies: the steady, soft, cluck, cluck, cluck. So I am faced with a dilemma. She has 4 eggs under her. I have 10 eggs in the incubator on day 12. I have a few options. Discard the 4 eggs under her, and replace them with the incubator eggs (I greatly prefer hen hatching than incubator hatching), put something under her to keep her broody until the eggs hatch, then fostering the chicks under her, or let both sets hatch. I don't really want fourteen chicks, so I don't think I'll hatch both. Other option. Do you guys think changing the incubator eggs to the broody would be too stressful on the embryos? I don't know if they've become accustomed to the incubator or something . I just wish the hen could do the last half of the incubation, as that's when I've had the most trouble with incubators and most success with hens, and I want to give these little embryos the best chance possible. Thoughts?

Broodiness is very becoming on this hen. She's actually not one of my not one of my best girls. But being broody has seemed to improve her crest and tail, at least to me!
Here she is non-broody.

Great photos!

 

[Feathersprings]

Well Icelynn is 6 months right now and I have been working with her since she was 3 months old, but she did come to me very friendly so it was a good start. You will want to chose a silkie that is VERY calm and tolerant of all sorts of handling because they will be passed person to person. Any chance I get I let people hold her, even young children. You would be watching everything that goes on with your chicken and be right next to it at all times so you shouldn't worry about it getting hurt. You will definitely need a diaper though. Good luck =D It is very rewarding.

Most of mine are pretty calm that I have raised here and some that I havent. I figured a diaper would be a necessity ( and a good conversation piece Guess since we dont have a lot of people around to pet and pick her up I will have to put her in my little doggy pouch and carry her around town with me to get further socialization. I am getting ready to hatch out a new bunch of white babies so i am going to watch them close to see which would be the most likely to enjoy it.

 

[Arkansas81]

I am planning on getting some silkies-probably around pol in around april. I have looked at all the colors and I think I am in love with all the wonderful colors that I have seen from you all. So question is-what color combo can i expect with getting white,orange,black,partridge. I know I will be getting at least 4 hens and 1 rooster. I requested one of all the colors she has...I want to breed pure (which they are, sq) I care nothing about showing. BUT I want to breed and sell the babies, so what are you're y'alls thoughts??

 

[Sanna]

Me holding the Macho man himself today. Even being all flustered from being caught, he manages to poke out his chest

In other news....Houston, we have a broody. At first I thought she was sick because today was a free range day, but she remained in the dogloo, kind of standing around being very quiet and subdued. This evening when I made my evening rounds, I noticed her laying down, all flattened out. As I have had many broody hens before, I recognized this sign. But she wasn't sitting on any eggs. She was sitting beside the day's egg collection. I stuck my hand under her to move her, and she pecked me, another sure sign, so I placed the eggs that were beside her under her. She immediately began shifting back and forth and settling on them, and I heard the calling card of broodies: the steady, soft, cluck, cluck, cluck. So I am faced with a dilemma. She has 4 eggs under her. I have 10 eggs in the incubator on day 12. I have a few options. Discard the 4 eggs under her, and replace them with the incubator eggs (I greatly prefer hen hatching than incubator hatching), put something under her to keep her broody until the eggs hatch, then fostering the chicks under her, or let both sets hatch. I don't really want fourteen chicks, so I don't think I'll hatch both. Other option. Do you guys think changing the incubator eggs to the broody would be too stressful on the embryos? I don't know if they've become accustomed to the incubator or something . I just wish the hen could do the last half of the incubation, as that's when I've had the most trouble with incubators and most success with hens, and I want to give these little embryos the best chance possible. Thoughts?

Broodiness is very becoming on this hen. She's actually not one of my not one of my best girls. But being broody has seemed to improve her crest and tail, at least to me!
Here she is non-broody.

Broody or not she's nice.

Has a bonnet like my pullet. Yours is nicer though. lol

 

[moomoodiddy]

I am planning on getting some silkies-probably around pol in around april. I have looked at all the colors and I think I am in love with all the wonderful colors that I have seen from you all. So question is-what color combo can i expect with getting white,orange,black,partridge. I know I will be getting at least 4 hens and 1 rooster. I requested one of all the colors she has...I want to breed pure (which they are, sq) I care nothing about showing. BUT I want to breed and sell the babies, so what are you're y'alls thoughts??

its awesome idea all silkies should have a mulberry comb and im guessing by orange you mean buff?

 

[ChicksNherps]

I am planning on getting some silkies-probably around pol in around april. I have looked at all the colors and I think I am in love with all the wonderful colors that I have seen from you all. So question is-what color combo can i expect with getting white,orange,black,partridge. I know I will be getting at least 4 hens and 1 rooster. I requested one of all the colors she has...I want to breed pure (which they are, sq) I care nothing about showing. BUT I want to breed and sell the babies, so what are you're y'alls thoughts??

You will get a mess of colors and it would not be breeding pure colors. White should only be bred to white, buff and black can be bred with partridge but only a few I think would end up partridge most would look messy. If you want different colors while being able to still breed them all together to get pure colors, buy blue, black, and splash silkies. Blue, black, and splash can all be bred together to create more blue, black, and splash. Unless the white is from a B/B/S background I would stay away from it. White is a recessive color and can pop up anywhere, so unless you know the background you won't know what you will get. You will not get white if you breed white to any other color unless that bird has a hidden white gene.

PS: give the caring nothing about showing a month haha it's LOADS of fun!

 

[Arkansas81]

its awesome idea all silkies should have a mulberry comb and im guessing by orange you mean buff?

mullberry comb? sorry i'm still VERY new to all of this...so can you please explain

. Yes I guess that is what i meant..orange=buff. I've been itching to tell her that I want them early, but I must resist..if I don't they will have to sleep in the house.

I can hear all the whinning now!!

 

[Arkansas81]

You will get a mess of colors and it would not be breeding pure colors. White should only be bred to white, buff and black can be bred with partridge but only a few I think would end up partridge most would look messy. If you want different colors while being able to still breed them all together to get pure colors, buy blue, black, and splash silkies. Blue, black, and splash can all be bred together to create more blue, black, and splash. Unless the white is from a B/B/S background I would stay away from it. White is a recessive color and can pop up anywhere, so unless you know the background you won't know what you will get. You will not get white if you breed white to any other color unless that bird has a hidden white gene.

PS: give the caring nothing about showing a month haha it's LOADS of fun!

Ok so I need to stay away from white..good to know. I just love the color but whew that would be so hard to keep them pretty. The white leghorns I have now always are so dirty, dusty looking. My coop is very clean...at least I try very hard! But this weather is giving me even more gray hairs

!! So blue, black, splash would be good, especially black. My daughter lost some black ones, she's been dying to get more. What about buff and partridge? What are you're thoughts? I am very interested in breeding to sop..and keeping the lines pure. I really want to upgrade the species in anyway I possibly can..