Silkie thread!

[silkiemomma42]

I always use ACV in their water when I'm having pasty butt issues

 

[countrygirl74]

Well I do not have my birds yet but I'm just planning ahead but the ones I will buy shortly are around 6-7 months . And I was also wondering if all the food I feed my hens including grit is okay to feed to roosters

See below next Quote....

Benny...silkies don't really like all the calcium available in layer formula foods. I grew starter/grower their entire life and offer grit and oyster shells as free feed so they can regulate it themselves. I also offer a high protein hobby supplement. I feed mine a fermented feed but that's not necessary. Good luck with your birds!

X2 - I only feed grower feed because I have silkies and both silkie and standard roos. I also just offer free-choice oyster shell. None of my birds will probably ever be on a layer feed. I don't bother with grit because they are on a dirt floor run and they get out for supervised free-ranging every day. If they have access to sand, dirt with small pebbles/rocks, etc., you won't need to provide grit. They will find it themselves.

At what age do Silkies typically start laying? I have my 3 month olds in a mixed grow out coop and wonder how long I have before I have to start separating them. Hopefully I will be able to sex them before long. I will try to get some pics on here this weekend for y'all to look and see what you think.

I don't know what the "typical" age is as I've heard some people who's silkies were very early and others who took 30+ weeks. In my case, my little white silkie was the very first to lay out of my entire flock of standard hens! She was barely 20 weeks.

 

[RustyHen]

I've posted pictures of my Silkie chick here a couple of days ago, found out she was pet quality..I've owned her for a month now and I was wondering if anyone could give me tips on sexing her..I've probably jinxed myself by calling it a her and it's probably a roo, but oh well..I'm not really getting any answers anywhere else I've posted so this is kind of my last resort, any tips?

You will need to wait until about 6 months old to be sure, but if you take a head on pic of just the face. So we can see the comb area we might be able to give you a guess and tell you what to look for.

 

[RustyHen]

I could use some advice. I have a paint chick that doesn't seem to be growing. I bought her along with 5 other chicks and they are all about 2 weeks old now. They were near the same size when I got them but now there's a big difference between her and the others. Here's picture of her with the other paint of the same age.


Pipsqueak is the chick I posted about last week with pasty butt. She's still getting pb regularly. I check her at least x2 each day and gently clean her up as needed.
She's eating and drinking and her droppings appear normal. I caught her 'in the act' yesterday and saw that the dropping was normal but never dropped off. It just hung there so I know now that things are just hanging there and drying in place. Any ideas?

I have had similar problems with a Cochin bantam. I very carefully took small scissors and trimmed any feathers away from vent area.It did help with hang ups. By the way she has always been treated as a outsider by the rest and is last in peck order, but she lays and is very happy.

 

[RustyHen]

I could use some advice. I have a paint chick that doesn't seem to be growing. I bought her along with 5 other chicks and they are all about 2 weeks old now. They were near the same size when I got them but now there's a big difference between her and the others. Here's picture of her with the other paint of the same age.


Pipsqueak is the chick I posted about last week with pasty butt. She's still getting pb regularly. I check her at least x2 each day and gently clean her up as needed.
She's eating and drinking and her droppings appear normal. I caught her 'in the act' yesterday and saw that the dropping was normal but never dropped off. It just hung there so I know now that things are just hanging there and drying in place. Any ideas?

double post

 

[heby]

was yours from a hatchery?

I got mine during the chick days at our local feed store but I believe he gets his from a hatchery. Not sure which one. I guess I should ask so I will know for future reference. I seen the poof and feathered legs and asked to see it. When the guy pulled it out and it had 5 toes, I took it. It is my avatar, tho it looks very different now. haha. I hope it is real fluffy.

 

[alamb1]

Hey everyone. I'm new to silkies. I got a couple of chicks last week. The first one I think is a partridge. The second one I'm not sure about. Any ideas?

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Hey everyone. I'm new to silkies. I got a couple of chicks last week. The first one I think is a partridge. The second one I'm not sure about. Any ideas?

Grey, and possibly also grey or blue.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

My girls helped me garden this afternoon, Cleo was helping me pull out weeds

 

[NOLA Chicks]

Try rubbing olive oil on her butt. Worked for my little one.

I always use ACV in their water when I'm having pasty butt issues

I have had similar problems with a Cochin bantam. I very carefully took small scissors and trimmed any feathers away from vent area.It did help with hang ups. By the way she has always been treated as a outsider by the rest and is last in peck order, but she lays and is very happy.

Thanks so much! I've used an ointment - must need to use a little more. The vent area is pretty clear of feathers. I use ACV for my 4-month olds. Brain fart must have prevented me from doing it with the biddies.

Should I be worried about her lack of growth? The other silkie chicks are almost twice her size now.

My girls helped me garden this afternoon, Cleo was helping me pull out weeds

So cute! One of my cockerels will come over when he sees me pulling weeds hoping to find a little morsel.