Silkie thread!

[Sylvester017]

If you get Silkies may I suggest something that I should've heeded when I started building my flock?

We added a White Leghorn and Marans to the flock. As pullets everyone got along but eventually at 2-3 years old the LF became bullies and were re-homed. Silkies can hold their own in flock politics but not when the LF are aggressive or are 3x heavier than the Silkies. If Silkies are added to an existing heavy LF flock it will be tough going for the Silkies as they will get picked on. Even as chicks raised with LF chicks the bigger chicks sometimes will pick on the Silkies as they get bigger faster than the Silkies - and Silkies have that soft skull that needs protecting.

We don't get any breeds over 5-lbs now and only known gentle-tempered breeds to mix with the Silkies. We currently have a Buff Leghorn (calmer than either White or Brown Leghorns) and an APA Ameraucana. The Ameraucanas are kooky, goofy, spooky, jittery, jumpy, vocal birds but they are not interested in flock politics and are gentle souls at heart that love to talk to you and let you hold or pet them. In fact I wouldn't mix them with heavy LF either because of their gentle nature. www.OurFlyBabies.com always keep Blue Wheaten Ameraucanas because they will take in orphaned chicks or injured birds into their flock without fuss. A very friendly breed. We want to add a couple of lightweight gentle Breda next Spring to try with the Silkies. We've been assured they are lightweight, gentle, non-broody and good layers. So we'll see. There aren't too many LF I'll consider mixing with Silkies in our small backyard.

Quote:
My egg seller friend has an Orp that was pretty aggressive but since she isn't around bantams she was kept. You can do whatever you feel comfortable with but most Silkie owners (not all) will say it's ok to mix. However all pullets LF and bantams are pretty sweet until about 18 months to 2 years. Then the bigger over 6-lb dual breeds or LF will start to bully just because they can. It's a chicken thing. 2-lb Silkies are just as political as LF but aren't evenly matched size-wise so you do the size-math and come to your own decisions.

Smiles -

 

[Sylvester017]

Sylvester! I know you said you are 70 and forgetful, but come on now my friend! You didn't see these pictures I've already posted? LOL We already have three Silkies my Dear! Two hens and one rooster! They are never allowed together! I do take the two girls outside at night to eat grass and bugs. Miss Fatso Molly is always beating one pound wonder Maria up! Maria wants nothing more than a buddy! So of course she's always trying to hangout with Molly!

I have found the easy way to keep them separated! Never have to leave my chair either! We use a red laser pointer light to get them to move apart! My Moran Hen is deathly afraid of it! LOL That girl can be anywhere in the yard after dark eating bugs and grass. I tell her several times it's time to come inside. If she gets stubborn and won't come in? I get the laser and point it behind her. She darn near runs me over trying to get in the house and away from the light!

Chickens are a hoot! Sounds like you are around them nearly 24/7 to monitor.

I just would like Silkie owners to be aware of something I didn't think about when I added LF to the flock. We had a lovely large 7-lb Marans who was sweet until her over 18 months age and then she didn't just become aggressive - she was vicious jumping on the back of a 6 month old barely 2-lb Silkie and digging her claws into the little thing until it screamed. No more over 5-lb LF and only known gentle breeds now.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Chickens are a hoot!  Sounds like you are around them nearly 24/7 to monitor. 

I just would like Silkie owners to be aware of something I didn't think about when I added LF to the flock.  We had a lovely large 7-lb Marans who was sweet until her over 18 months age and then she didn't just become aggressive - she was vicious jumping on the back of a 6 month old barely 2-lb Silkie and digging her claws into the little thing until it screamed.  No more over 5-lb LF and only known gentle breeds now.

Sounds like your hen may have been a frustrated old spinster.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Have you guys seen Mr G and Jellybean ?

http://q13fox.com/2014/05/26/goat-r...-burro-bestie-must-watch-video/#axzz32xtNJ2t3

 

[I<3MyChickens-Jewel&Flash]

I have a splash silkie hen that has a slightly crooked beak and I still hatch her eggs. So far, knock on wood, her babies have been very beautiful.

really? I'd love Astrids babies she is different looking. But she is more skittish of my chickens.

The lady I got them from apparently she bred sister to brother. And there babies to each other. I'm hoping having new bloodline would be good.

My Lydia is on eggs currently. She is blue and very fluffy. Hope to get fluffy chick's . The father is red partridge rooster. Idk what colors I get. My other hens is splash. So hope I can tell whose babies are whose. Both of them have mated with partridge roo

 

[Sylvester017]

Chickens are a hoot! Sounds like you are around them nearly 24/7 to monitor.

I just would like Silkie owners to be aware of something I didn't think about when I added LF to the flock. We had a lovely large 7-lb Marans who was sweet until her over 18 months age and then she didn't just become aggressive - she was vicious jumping on the back of a 6 month old barely 2-lb Silkie and digging her claws into the little thing until it screamed. No more over 5-lb LF and only known gentle breeds now.

Quote:
Not sure under 2 years of age qualifies for spinsterhood but her new owner says she is still nasty and sneakily picks at passersby in the flock. Just one bad egg that one!

 

[I<3MyChickens-Jewel&Flash]

What color chick's can I expect from these below.

Roman x Emery
Roman x Lydia

You can include Ichabod but I'm pretty sure he is infertile sadly. My porcelain rooster isn't allowed to mate. The other roos won't let him.

 

[Sylvester017]

Have you guys seen Mr G and Jellybean ?

http://q13fox.com/2014/05/26/goat-r...-burro-bestie-must-watch-video/#axzz32xtNJ2t3

OMG! So cute. I hope Jellybean isn't gone before Mr G as the attachment seems to be more on the goat's end than the burro's and I don't think poor Mr G can take another separation at his age of 10. I once saw a video of a horse and goat that formed an attachment over 20 years. When the horse went blind the goat led him through their favorite woods every day and back home every night.

Goats are really amazing but they need a LOT of space as we had them on the farm and they can be quite mischievous!

 

[emvickrey]

She does have a slight crooked beak. Sadly. Don't plan on having any of her eggs if she is a hen. Or her breeding the hens

I have a beautiful cockerel that when I noticed his beak going in the wrong direction he was about the same age as yours. But my fella's beak wasnot crossed but growing in at a sideways angle. Now it's also crossed. He eats and drinks just fine. He's pretty heavy actually but he can't hang on to breed. I wouldn't use him for breeding anyway. because of the beak.


His comb is even crooked. I suppose there is a deformity to the front part of his skull but he don't act like he has anything wrong with him. Unfortunately I can't use him so I have him up for free to who ever will take him as a pet. He loves cuddling and also unfortunate we don't have a ground pen for him right now. I get him out sometimes to do a little wandering and I feed him fresh Kale cut from the garden. Despite the front view of his face he is beautiful and so fluffy.

So if anybody wants him you supply the box and pay the shipping and he's yours but only as long as he is to be a pet.

 

[K Epp]

I have what I believe is a silkie/cochin mix, Sylvia. Sylvia is looking more boyish everyday! She has a nice big, red comb, and wattles coming in. What do you guys think? If she is a rooster it will give me a great excuse to rehome my not so nice RIR rooster and keep her/him instead. Has anyone had experience with silkie, cochin, or silkie/cochin roosters? Are they well behaved? She is fairly feisty and I don't want to mess with another mean rooster...

I think your question about Silkie roos has been answered. I just put Clyde my dark blue roo in the coop with Two hens and their seven chicks. He is acting just fine with the babies. Now Carmela one of the hens is giving him a hard time. I have a LF Cochin roo who is just as calm and nice as the Silkies.