Silkie thread!

[silkie2001]

I got Silkies!!

Good for you and yaaay

 

[coaldigger]

Color opinions???????

 

[Debbiedoobs]

I'd have to agree with Chick Rookie here-if she is fighting to live, why not give it a chance? As long as you have the time and resources, what can it hurt? 

She's definitely a little fighter! I'm so pleased that there's some people out there who agree with me! I can not give up on something that is trying so hard to survive. Silkies are such beautiful creatures!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Color opinions???????

Splash if the colouring is only at the top of the feathers and paint if it runs all the way down to the skin. I hope that makes sense!

 

[quailtrail]

I got Silkies!!

adorable! !!!!

 

[SilkieLegs]

Penny, one of our 3 silkie hens, was found this morning in the flower bed on 5 eggs! She has sat all morning. We have a coop, which they sleep in every night, with a double decker nesting box. Occasionally they will lay an egg in a box, but mostly outside in random places. Eggs in the boxes sift down into the 3-4" deep straw (wonder if it is too deep to be accessible for rolling and sitting). So, I have two questions: can we move the 5 eggs to a box for her protection from predators, and how much straw should I put in the boxes? Is 3-4" too deep?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Penny, one of our 3 silkie hens, was found this morning in the flower bed on 5 eggs! She has sat all morning. We have a coop, which they sleep in every night, with a double decker nesting box. Occasionally they will lay an egg in a box, but mostly outside in random places. Eggs in the boxes sift down into the 3-4" deep straw (wonder if it is too deep to be accessible for rolling and sitting). So, I have two questions: can we move the 5 eggs to a box for her protection from predators, and how much straw should I put in the boxes? Is 3-4" too deep?

It might be worthwhile to wait till nightfall to move her. There is no guarantee that she will stay on the relocated eggs but it's worth a try. The straw or hay with a depression in the centre helps to stop eggs rolling out. I keep my broody inside a pen in the coop. It stops other hens from coming in and laying more eggs in her nest. Once I'm sure they are there to stay I powder them for lice, nothing worse than babies with lice. The Broodiies lack of dust bathing makes her more prone to lice.

 

[Ruralpearls]

I just got my first Silkie chick and I have a question. I have six chicks in the brooder and my Silkie is always sleeping. It appears to be healthy and it eats and drinks fine but while the others are running around having a good time it is snoozing away. Are Silkies just a bit more lethargic as chicks or do I need to worry about some other problem?

 

[Sylvester017]

I've found keeping them too warm will do it and so will dirty water. I change my chicks water several times a day. A combination of the heat and food, wood shavings and poop in the water it makes for a nasty concoction.

Last time I took a bird to the vet I brought everything I have in my collection of meds and VetRX is also included. My vet said that is good for nothing and I may as well throw it away. Just thought I would add that little info. I've read where others have posted that it is great to have.

Thanx 4 d input! Just like DE I hesitated to use it and finally gave it away unopened. It should be an example to me that if I'm hesitating about a product to go on the safe side of caution and not use it. I'll save the money and wait on the Vet Rx til I get the vet's input. I haven't heard enough glowing reports about how well it works or for what it does from people who may have used it. OTC meds are either improperly administered, or not strong enough, or have to be used more as a continuation medication after stronger drug injections. I wind up going to the vet for all my Silkie's ailments anyway and not too keen about self-diagnosing or self-medicating when I haven't the experience like some with bigger flocks or long-time chicken owners. The thing that bothered me about DE is that it had a snake-oil cure for too many things yet had more warnings on the label than a bottle of lye and many reviewers were disappointed it didn't work. There's a cedar based pet spray against fleas, lice, mites, insects, etc that supposedly can be used on poultry but aren't cedar fumes dangerous to chicken's respiratory system? Same idea with Vet Rx - there are just too many claims about what it can do that makes it suspect to me - I read the label and wasn't impressed with it at first glance. Since I've been fortunate to have such a terrific vet just 10 minutes away I'll leave the medicating up to him. Again, thanks for the input.

 

[Sylvester017]

I wouldn't ever take the chick away, the mom needs to personally teach it what to eat and how to dust bathe, besides all that work the mom did to hatch that little chick, I would think she should be able to keep it, why don't you try to hatch a couple eggs from a bator, it probably knows that that chicken is it's mother.

Yes, chicks are quick to bond - to a momma hen that's been clucking to it since before it hatched or a hatchery chick that bonds with its human on the ride home from the feed store!
Don't worry about taming a baby chick. When it is a juvenile and sees treats in your hand you won't be able to chase it off LOL !