Silkie thread!

[BuckNBark Farm]

HaHa - thanks for the Polish input. I was just considering getting a Silver Polish next year to add to the Silkie flock. I want a white egg layer and ruled out the small Breda because their eggs are not always white but sometimes cream or tinted. Are Polish as weird or "dumb" as people report and do they lay a truly white medium egg? How's your experience been mixing them with Silkies? For their crest vision problem I've read that hair tape holds their feathers out of their eyes but don't know if it has to be removed every day at roost? Crested birds are so spooked and I'd hate to get a stressed-out breed to add to the flock.

I've had mostly calm Polish. Only one was that was super flighty (and super mean). He was like that when I got him. I've had 18 others that have been fine. Yep- white medium eggs. I only have Silkie eggs to compare them to, so they look big to me. I haven't mixed Polish with the Silkies (because mine are large sized, plus don't want Silkie/Polish crosses). I've heard that they get along fine. I don't tape mine. They don't have a problem with them. The male is still youngish- he's going on a yr old. Unless he grows longer crest, he's fine. My Polish are friendlier than the Silkies

Pam

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

I should go back to the Polish thread as I think there was a post there about hair tape - someone else had used nylon knee-hi's to tie up the crest. Wish I had bookmarked it! Tape is sold in beauty supply stores and not necessarily in actual beauty salons. If I find it I'll let you know. I have so many crested and fluffy footed birds I hate to have to deal with a Polish crest too - especially since it can look so lovely - but it does help the birds to see their surroundings to have clear viewing and I'll have to think about getting a Polish.

Many people do use it on Silkies (the hair tape).

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

I should go back to the Polish thread as I think there was a post there about hair tape - someone else had used nylon knee-hi's to tie up the crest. Wish I had bookmarked it! Tape is sold in beauty supply stores and not necessarily in actual beauty salons. If I find it I'll let you know. I have so many crested and fluffy footed birds I hate to have to deal with a Polish crest too - especially since it can look so lovely - but it does help the birds to see their surroundings to have clear viewing and I'll have to think about getting a Polish.

I think the Silkies have a much harder time seeing than the Polish. I've had to trim the feathers around their eyes on many of them (the Silkies).

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Silkiesforever nope just doing that until she was dry like bucknbark saidYep bucknbark now she is dry and fine I was worried had never washed a chicken it's my first show I was so worried I had hurt her

That's great news! Good luck at your show! -Pam

 

[omas biddies]

Beautiful I can watch them all day

 

[Sylvester017]

I think the Silkies have a much harder time seeing than the Polish. I've had to trim the feathers around their eyes on many of them (the Silkies).

Since my Silkies are 2 and 3 years old they're quite good at seeing their free-range surroundings. I've seen them nibbling the areas just enough around each other's face and wallah! they can see! One year I had a totally bald Partridge from one of the LF chewing on her (gone now) but this year she has a cute little topknot - not full as her skull is flatter but better than bald - ha!

The Polish don't have fluffy soft Silkie crests but more opaque solid hardfeather crests to obstruct view. I think the temperaments will get along with each other in the free-range but I'm still pondering the crest problem on the Polish. Maybe I should go w/ a beardless variety to minimize sight obstruction? I can't have roos and the hens look like they have more vision obstruction.

 

[Sylvester017]

I've had mostly calm Polish. Only one was that was super flighty (and super mean). He was like that when I got him. I've had 18 others that have been fine. Yep- white medium eggs. I only have Silkie eggs to compare them to, so they look big to me. I haven't mixed Polish with the Silkies (because mine are large sized, plus don't want Silkie/Polish crosses). I've heard that they get along fine. I don't tape mine. They don't have a problem with them. The male is still youngish- he's going on a yr old. Unless he grows longer crest, he's fine. My Polish are friendlier than the Silkies

Pam

Thx for confirming the white eggs - the size of eggs is immaterial to me so medium is great. Can't expect a 4 lb hen to humanely lay larger than that although Jaerhons at 3 lbs have been bred to lay large eggs - cruel IMHO.

Anyway, do you free-range completely open yard or do you keep your birds in pens or confined areas or do you tractor them? My girls are free-range open yard all day with low-to-the-ground shelters to dive under if they spook. I can't have roos so crossbreeds will not be happening. This is why I'm getting as much Polish input as I can. I've experienced Silkies for 3 years and they are a very aware breed open-ranging for all that time.

 

[K Epp]

My Polish eggs are long and skinny compared to my other eggs. My Polish girls are two of the friendliest out of my 60 birds. The roo is the devil. He flogged me this evening and tomorrow will get his spurs cut off (trimmed) if that doesn't work the next thing will be his head. I'm up at 2am because my dang leg hurts. I can't imagine putting my sweet girls in with him. They are living with the bantam and he is part of the LF flock. He and a Sultan may both be nuggets this weekend.

My Silkie roos are both sweet as can be. I have 2 splash pullets, 1 dark buff, 1 white Sizzle and a black frizzle to go with them. I also hot 5 Silkie babies who are all going yo be pullets this weekend 2 buff, 2 partridge, 1 blue. I'm excited to see what color the partridge turn out to be one is gold base and the other silver.

 

[kimmerjo]

Molly is wondering what I am doing

 

[SilkiesForEver]

My Silkie chick is getting worse. Before, her chin touched her chest; now, her whole head is curled in. She walks around and tries to keep up with her broodmates, but every so often she does a flip because her head goes under her body.

I'm dosing her everyday with water with vitamins in it. I've heard Selenium is good for Wry neck.. is that true?