Silkie thread!

[kmatt87]

When mine we young- I had some like that. They turned out to be the females of the group! My males outgrew them later. Seems like months later. I don't know if that's how most go- this was my first group. The are now 8 months- and the cockerel is twice the size of the pullets now.

has anyone else noticed this happening in their batch of chicks?

 

[Johnn]

Im so tempted to get a silkie because id like another broody but im getting really out off because i heard if you have a muddy run their feet get infected. I have like a huge field but they would have to go through a muddy pen to get from the field to the shed and the shed to the field :/, They also look like they are fragile and could easily be beat to death.

 

[CALI CHICK]

Im so tempted to get a silkie because id like another broody but im getting really out off because i heard if you have a muddy run their feet get infected. I have like a huge field but they would have to go through a muddy pen to get from the field to the shed and the shed to the field :/, They also look like they are fragile and could easily be beat to death.

For all the reasons you mentioned........I wouldn't recommend a silkie. A better broody for you would be a Buff Orpington. My BO went broody 4X last year and I'd have to give her fertile eggs, let her sit (and give her feed store chicks) OR try to break her broodiness. But if you WANT a good broody.........I personally think Buff Orpington's are great! My Buffy is a big girl and can cover a lot of eggs and she is a great momma.
By the way -my silkies have never gone broody for me! They don't even act like they like laying their occasional eggs.

And, yes they are very fragile and have to be kept seperate from my large fowl girls. Any of my LF hens could beat the snot out of my little silkie rooster if given the chance........I hate to think what they would do to my little silkie hens.

 

[peepblessed]

how fast do silkies tend to grow? I have 2 blue silkies and they should both be about the same age....i think 1 might be 3 days older then the other but thats not a very big gap. The one that appears older (more wing feathering) is nearly twice the size of the other! Is that a normal thing? Sign of a roo?

Way too young to know.

There are two of my chicks that fight a lot does that mean there roosters?

Girls fight too but I don't see them fighting as often.

 

[kmatt87]

the 2 new additions....buff one is pork chop, the white one is willow

 

[aoxa]

the 2 new additions....buff one is pork chop, the white one is willow

 

[Johnn]

For all the reasons you mentioned........I wouldn't recommend a silkie. A better broody for you would be a Buff Orpington. My BO went broody 4X last year and I'd have to give her fertile eggs, let her sit (and give her feed store chicks) OR try to break her broodiness. But if you WANT a good broody.........I personally think Buff Orpington's are great! My Buffy is a big girl and can cover a lot of eggs and she is a great momma.
By the way -my silkies have never gone broody for me! They don't even act like they like laying their occasional eggs.

And, yes they are very fragile and have to be kept seperate from my large fowl girls. Any of my LF hens could beat the snot out of my little silkie rooster if given the chance........I hate to think what they would do to my little silkie hens.

I do have a Buff Orpington who goes broody, i just wanted another one

 

[sheeshshe]

none of my buff orpingtons ever went broody!

 

[Johnn]

none of my buff orpingtons ever went broody!

1 out of 2 of mine went broody and the one taht went broody hatched out another BO girl so i hope she sits too!

 

[Sanna]

There are two of my chicks that fight a lot does that mean there roosters?

How old are your chicks? Pullets fool around too until they get a little older.

For all the reasons you mentioned........I wouldn't recommend a silkie. A better broody for you would be a Buff Orpington. My BO went broody 4X last year and I'd have to give her fertile eggs, let her sit (and give her feed store chicks) OR try to break her broodiness. But if you WANT a good broody.........I personally think Buff Orpington's are great! My Buffy is a big girl and can cover a lot of eggs and she is a great momma.
By the way -my silkies have never gone broody for me! They don't even act like they like laying their occasional eggs.

And, yes they are very fragile and have to be kept seperate from my large fowl girls. Any of my LF hens could beat the snot out of my little silkie rooster if given the chance........I hate to think what they would do to my little silkie hens.

You must have some oddball silkies because ours go broody all the time and I hear lots of chicken people recommend silkies for broodies all the time.