Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

Silly question... I want to get into showing, but need to get a SQ bird. How do you get your hands on one to start off with. Wouldn't any breeder keep the nicest ones for themselves? Or would I need to get nice eggs, grow them out, hope for a nice one, and sell the rest? What would be the best route to go with this one?

Many breeders do not sell eggs or chicks. A few do. And you are right, breeders will not sell their best birds. But if you let them know that you are looking for birds to show, you should be able to get some nice ones. I'd suggest joining the American Silkie Bantam Club and connecting with breeders in your area; there are a lot of good breeders in the New England area, as well as a lot of shows. If you can attend some of the shows, that will also help you connect with breeders. Good Luck!

 

[SilkieMom8875]

You mean the non-broody hens?  That is VERY TYPICAL.  If they were not broody (and sometimes even if they were), they are far more likely to attack a chick than to mother it.  There are exceptions, and a hen experienced at playing mama is more likely to take to chicks, but not when the whole flock is involved.

Update.....the first 2 hatched babies are doing great with mommy unfortunaly # 3 came out but when I just checked on it it was dead. Not pecked at all so idk what happened. #4 is on its way out now.
My husband sectioned off a part of the coop for the broodies and egg/babies.
I know this is the first time I am doing this but I have read a lot on it. I read that silkies like to co-parent and do just fine most of the time. I really believe that I just scared them and they didn't even know what they were pecking at.

Crossing my fingers and watching carefully so things go smoothly !!!
Thx

 

[SilkieMom8875]

Another question all together.
Is the feathers growing back in? Or something else???

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

feathers are growing back in.

 

[SilkieMom8875]

feathers are growing back in.  

Ok Ty. Thought so!,

 

[kabhyper1]

I called 3 avian vets, and was told to use DE, so that's what I did. just on the backs near vent and a bit under wings. I am so paranoid of respiratory issues. I am watching them closely, but if there is a problem, Im not sure i can actually do anything for them. I let my cochin dust bathe in sand and put some on her back so I wouldn't aspirate the chicks, and cleaned out the brooder. Vet said to re treat in a week. They said DE is the only thing they would use on day old chicks. I still may go get poultry dust for my large coop. It isn't an infestation yet, so hopefully the DE does the trick. I haven't seen any of my large birds scratch at all. I think Lavender got it while she was broody and gave it to the chicks, then when I put the chicks together in the brooder they gave it to each other. I am treating everybody anyway.

 

[Suzierd]

Mix ivermectin pour-on with an equal amount of a light oil (olive, bath, etc.) and put a drop under on wing of each bird.  Repeat on the other wing in about 5 days.  If they are under a hen, be sure to treat her at full strength, and treat the nest area and pen with a spray or dust for poultry premises.  DE will NOT treat an infestation.  Treat ASAP! Lice and mites kill babies very quickly!

Great advice! DE will not treat an infestation and can cause Respitatory problems.

 

[sheeshshe]

It's really not his fault. He needs to relieve some of that pent up testosterone. Can you get him a couple girls? They don't have to be silkies..

I have another pen with LF chickens. I thought about putting him in there, but I'm afraid my alpha females would destroy him. thoughts?

 

[aoxa]

I have another pen with LF chickens. I thought about putting him in there, but I'm afraid my alpha females would destroy him. thoughts?

Take your most submissive hens you have and give him two in the silkie pen.

You could try and add him in there. Do it in the morning when he is at his most horny. See if they accept him.

I usually have more problems with roosters attacking the silkie boys.. I think it's safe to try it if you are around to watch for the first while.

 

[sheeshshe]

Ok, so maybe I'll let him outside in the grass to run around for a while and then put him in the run?

He's never went after the chicks like that before! it scared me so badly! it was my favorite chick too. I'm so glad it made it.

Aoxa, I was thinking about you the other day and missed your posts. and voila! there you are!


Oh, I'm glad he'll calm down after his teenager years, that is reassuring! I'll keep him in hopes he gets better. I'll see if I can give him a girlfriend. There is one girl who used to be in the silkie pen that my hen hatched out, so she's always hanging out by the fence. so they get along pretty well. Maybe she could be his new girlfiend