Silkie thread!

[jajeanpierre]

believe me when I tell you, your not alone. I am CONSTANTLY having to protect against Hawks, Raccoons, Foxes, skunks, BOBCATS, etc. And its the worst walking in my backyard to see my favorite chicken with a hawk on top of it. And the hawks are illegal to shoot here!! Ahh! Its hard with free ranging chickens. But I don't work so I now have time to check on them throughout the day. Don't give up!! They are so worth it to keep trying!

It is illegal to shoot hawks anywhere in the US.

Dogs will discourage predators. Do you have a rooster who doesn't have a top knot that will block his vision? Also, put shelters up in the open areas so the birds can run to them. Sometimes just stringing up fishing line across open areas will stop a lot of hawks--they see it and don't think it is safe. Fall and winter is the worst time for hawk attacks because the current babies are now having to fend for themselves. Most will starve. Starving juveniles are the most reckless.

 

[aoxa]

It is illegal to shoot hawks anywhere in the US.

Dogs will discourage predators. Do you have a rooster who doesn't have a top knot that will block his vision? Also, put shelters up in the open areas so the birds can run to them. Sometimes just stringing up fishing line across open areas will stop a lot of hawks--they see it and don't think it is safe. Fall and winter is the worst time for hawk attacks because the current babies are now having to fend for themselves. Most will starve. Starving juveniles are the most reckless.

Anywhere in Canada as well.

 

[sheeshshe]

Silkie photo bomb

so cute! there is just something about white silkies that look so soft! their crests just look so soft and fluffy. so different from the colored ones I have. their 'hair' just looks so baby fine!

nice flock you have!

 

[Serenity30]

Hi everyone, I am fairly new to silkie chickens. I been wanting some and I came across a person that had some for sale or trade. We ended up trading my Lakenvelder pair, Light Brahma pair and 2 yoka hens for his 2 white silkie hens, 2 buff silkie hens and a pair of golden laced sebrite pair my daughter been wanting. We built a silkie coop and run for them the day before we got them. (hubby is a carpenter by trade) . A few days have passed and I noticed that both buff silkie hens have 2 black feathers growing at their tail feathers. Is this normal? Or could they possibly be splashes in the making? I can take pictures and post them in a few after I warm up with some coffee.

 

[ChickNmamma]

Hi everyone, I am fairly new to silkie chickens. I been wanting some and I came across a person that had some for sale or trade. We ended up trading my Lakenvelder pair, Light Brahma pair and 2 yoka hens for his 2 white silkie hens, 2 buff silkie hens and a pair of golden laced sebrite pair my daughter been wanting. We built a silkie coop and run for them the day before we got them. (hubby is a carpenter by trade) . A few days have passed and I noticed that both buff silkie hens have 2 black feathers growing at their tail feathers. Is this normal? Or could they possibly be splashes in the making? I can take pictures and post them in a few after I warm up with some coffee.

Hello and Welcome to the Silkie Thread and Welcome to the Wonderful world of Silkies!

Smutty Buff Silkies have black feathers in their tails and wings. Splash is white and black/gray - so no - its not a Splash, wrong genetics. I find it unusual that two girls are growing black tail feathers though - that usually happens on the boys.. Were the Buff hens laying?

Yes, warm up the coffee and go get us some pictures, we LOVE pictures of Sillies!

 

[newbie32]

Thot everyone would enjoy this. I went to check on my flock and um....I also have Muscovy ducks, and look what I found under momma..eekk! So precious

LOL that is very cute! I hope you put the duckling back with its momma though.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Since the silkie hatched it, she is its mama now. My experience with muscovies is that they make lousy mama's. Good broodies, but lousy mamas.

 

[Serenity30]

Hello and Welcome to the Silkie Thread and Welcome to the Wonderful world of Silkies!

Smutty Buff Silkies have black feathers in their tails and wings. Splash is white and black/gray - so no - its not a Splash, wrong genetics. I find it unusual that two girls are growing black tail feathers though - that usually happens on the boys.. Were the Buff hens laying?

Yes, warm up the coffee and go get us some pictures, we LOVE pictures of Sillies!

These are the pictures I took a few minutes ago. We was told all 4 are hens. 2 white and 2 buff. Notice the black tail feathers coming in on the two buff. The white hens are all white with no other color.







2 buff hens and one white hen is younger than the 4th white hen that we traded for.

 

[newbie32]

Since the silkie hatched it, she is its mama now. My experience with muscovies is that they make lousy mama's. Good broodies, but lousy mamas.

Well how will the duckling learn to be a duck? Chickens don't swim and duck behavior just isn't the same as chicken behavior

 

[lflynn5324]

It is illegal to shoot hawks anywhere in the US. 

Dogs will discourage predators.  Do you have a rooster who doesn't have a top knot that will block his vision?  Also, put shelters up in the open areas so the birds can run to them.  Sometimes just stringing up fishing line across open areas will stop a lot of hawks--they see it and don't think it is safe.  Fall and winter is the worst time for hawk attacks because the current babies are now having to fend for themselves.  Most will starve.  Starving juveniles are  the most reckless.

I have not used fishing line but that sounds like a great idea!! My backyard is only about a half acre with lots of trees. Those hawks are not scared by ME at ALL. I've come outside and see one tearing up one of my precious silkies and I get so upset I'll just run at it!! And then when it doesn't fly away and I'm standing 10 feet from it I start to panic. Haha! That's happened with a raccoon as well. But I've heard about netting over the yard, but the fishing line sounds like an easier task. Thank u for the info!!! I'll try that out