Silkie thread!

[Suzierd]

I really think it depends upon the willpower of the chick, whether they survive or not. I've done a completely sanitary assisted hatch with an incubator silkie chick, going slow, proper equipment, etc, with minimal amount of bleeding, and the chick just died shortly after being hatched out. On the flip side, I've had a broody leave an egg after it pipped and it stayed out from under the hen for almost two days. I finally decided to help it, though I was pressed for time (it was still peeping and alive), hatched it out right there in the nest with my bare hands, actually severed the main 'umbilical cord', which bled a LOT, the chick's yolk sack was only just sucked in, and the whole umbilical area was still loose and open. I wiped around the umbilical area with a wet paper towel to clean it up, stuck it under a heat lamp to dry it off, gave it some hummingbird sugar water, and that evening I put it back out with the broody. It's about 4 weeks old now, and still strong and healthy. He certainly had the will to survive! He/she is a olive egger project. I pray your chick is as strong and has an incredible will to live, as my miracle baby did!

I agree Rocker hen it could go either way. Thanks for the prayer, I lost a little black chick it was piped and I left it with the hens but in the morning I went out expecting to see a chick and it was still in the egg dead. Not sure what happened but it didn't make it out of the shell and it was peeping just the evening before. I felt if I would have helped it that evening it might have made it. I couldn't watch the same thin happen to this one. I know they say there weak chicks if they can't get out but I've been doing a lot of reading and that's not always the case. Sometimes their to large and can't pip or the membrane just dried to fast. And their fine healthy chicks. If not then like you said they'll pass anyway. But we have to try right!

 

[ChickNmamma]

I am planning on getting a flock of silkies, with one of every standard color: black, white, blue, splash, paint, partridge, and buff. If I were to choose one if them to be a rooster which color should it be? ( my goal is to get adorable multicolored chicks with a huge variety of colors) so which color rooster will offset each hens' color best? Cuz I dont want to get a rooster and then have all of its offspring look the same.... Thanks

If you want a whole bunch of different chicks, get a Partridge Rooster with mixed parentage. I got White, Smutty Buff, Light Partridge, Blue, Black, Partridge and Blue Partridge all from one Rooster over one Buff and two Blue hens (one a Sizzle). Splash will just give you blue, Paint is still a Project color so who knows what you will get. You might also want to play with the Lavender gene and get Self Blue, Self Blue Creme (Porcelean) and Calico.. just to really confuse things.

 

[Suzierd]

Do I need to give the first chick hatched water tonight? I know I don't need to feed it, it will go out with the hens and siblings in the morning.

 

[mbbrinegar]

The silkies are so cute and fluffy. I just got five white babies. So excited!!

 

[ChickNmamma]

Suzierd, I hope your chick hatches for you.

I have had it go both ways, the helped one didn't make it, and another did and is perfectly healthy. I have also had it where I helped and had to put it down later because of a major defect and it was suffering. I think, give them a chance - then do what needs to be done.

I have decided to pare down my Silkie Coop and put some birds on Craig's List. I don't know how close any of you are, but if anybody is interested, here is the ad: http://goldcountry.craigslist.org/grd/3977360823.html

No, I will not ship these, sorry. I am not NPIP, I do not vaccinate for anything and they have developed natural immunities to the cocci I have in my area.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Do I need to give the first chick hatched water tonight? I know I don't need to feed it, it will go out with the hens and siblings in the morning.

Do you have any poultry drench or save-a-chick electrolytes? I would give it that, and then some water if it wants to drink. They don't need to drink or eat for 3 days, but I find mine do better if they do drink early on. I usually put their beaks in the water and let them lift their head out and drink - they get the hang of it very quickly.

 

[Suzierd]

I don't but I'll give it a little water.
I too will be looking for homes for some of these sweeties.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Do I need to give the first chick hatched water tonight? I know I don't need to feed it, it will go out with the hens and siblings in the morning.

I showed my new chick the water nipple as soon as she could walk around well (about 5-7 hours after hatching). Now she is using the water nipple on her own. She has been nibbling food and drinking water so even though they can go a few days without, I feel you should offer it anyway.

 

[Suzierd]

Ok, she's not walking good yet.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Ok, she's not walking good yet.

Then she should be fine til morning