Silkie thread!

[sheeshshe]

Wing split, meaning no gap in the wing feathers?

 

[Suzierd]

Sheeshshe love your avatar!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Ideally a sizzle will have all silkie features, including dark skin and comb. But this depends on the generation. There are plenty of sizzles out there that are well into development, and if you get one that is F5 or 8 or so, and the breeder is selecting for silkie features and against faults, then the chances of getting a light comb is low. However, if someone is reinventing the wheel and you have F2 or 3 birds, or the breeder is not selecting against faults, then chances can be pretty high that you will get faults. F1s will invariably have dark skin (buffs excluded); it is the next few generations when recessives that you do not want start pairing up.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Well I had 3 silkies disappear today. No feathers no sign of struggle. My lot is 200 by 75 chainlink. No top. I assume a hawk. Well I am trying something to help but if any have ideas let me know. Thanks. I really don't want to use cd or bags hanging everywhere. But I am trying fishing line across the fence. Got a fourth done. Any suggestions. I do know it illegal to kill him. Well....

n my experience, when a hawk takes a bird there are feathers left where it was grabbed; and even more if the bird stopped to eat. No feathers indicates to me that they may be hiding or have gotten out of the yard. Are you sure they aren't broody and setting on a hidden clutch of eggs?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Are you willing to risk the $10K fine and 6months of jail time? That is the minimum.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

This is cock a doodle Blue, my son's 5 month old cockerel he plans to show at his first show next month. What do you all think?

That he would be a nice addition to my flock...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I never thought when I got chickens that I'd end up with them in the house. But here I am, with two chickens who reside indoors. This is Mozzarella, the six-month-old hopefully pullet who lives with Thunderhead in my mud room. She's very timid and hard to get good pictures of, especially with a cell phone. I need a new camera.



She's pretty nervous around people. We didn't get her until she was almost five months old and she lived on a farm with little human contact. This is her usual stance when she's out of her pen and in the presence of people. I'd love to get a more relaxed shot of her, but she's not having any of us or the camera no matter how many treats we offer her. Even when she's in her familiar pen with Thunderhead around, she gets nervous and hides in the little nest box I made for them when anyone comes in the room. She's actually quite pretty when she's not all stiff and scared.



And here's Thunderhead, the one who still won't eat, but acts normal otherwise. We're still working on that problem. He was just fed before I took his picture, so he was not a happy silkie. His streamers don't show well in this picture, but he already has them at two months old. He was not in the mood for a head shot. He kept turning around.

Do you watch TV or sit around visiting in the evenings? Put a towel on your lap and brng your little pullet out for some petting and handling. Just calmly rub her neck, both top and under her beak and let her veg out. Don;t try to give her treats or play with her, just cuddle...at least for the first few days. This gets her used to handling. Eventually see if she will take treats from you. Nt all of them will take them from your hand--some want you to put the treat down for them to find.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I have one tiny 'lil brown silky hen which I hatched underneath an old broody RIR hen last spring. But I'll tell ya, That 'lil silky girl bosses all 30 RIR's, buffys, coppers, plymouths, leghorns,and brahmas around all day long! I want more! They are absolutely ADORABLE!

And so many people are worried about how they will do with other chickens. Your experience is the same as mine

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Question! How many eggs a week do silkies lay???

7.

Unless they are molting or brooding.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Commercial eggs are NOT from birds fed antibiotics! That is illegal! It is common misinformation, since some MAMMALS can be given antibiotics without a withdrawal time. If birds are ill, then yes, they may be given antibiotics, but there is a withdrawal time (typically 2 weeks) so that all medicine passes from their bodies.

Also, the shelf life of commercial eggs is usually not as long as is purported. I am not promoting commercial eggs, just trying to promote accuracy. Now if you want to talk about the quality of their feed, or their housing, those are areas that are typically deplorable.