Silkie thread!

[Suzierd]

Since Zelda laid rubber eggs for awhile I now have a egg eater, great just what I need

 

[Dianne88]

I am new to silkies. I have 2 just over 4 months old. They are still so tiny!  Does anyone have any photos of one standing next to a standard chicken so I can get an idea of how big they get?  How old are they when they reach full size?  I am terrified they aren't getting enough food or something, lol.  There are 2 feeders in the run though so they don't have to compete with the big girls.  They are on scratch and peck grower, which I am not sure about because of all the powdery supplements mixed with the grains.  The powdery stuff clogs the feeder and I don't know if they are getting any of the supplements.  Argh. I want to feed organic especially to my egg layers but it is hard to find!  Can I feed everyone including the laying hens starter? I found organic manna pro starter at my feed store.  This way the little silkies get a higher protein feed.  Of course I always provide oyster shell free choice. 

My silkie isn't grown but I can show a comparison photo.

in this pic my silkie is 4 weeks and my EE is 2 weeks. That was last week and now my EE is pretty much the same size as my silkie.

 

[dstinett]

I have a mixed flock of free range layers and bantams. The only problem with my Silkie is that she is the bully. She even argues with the rooster

 

[Book]

I have a mixed flock of free range layers and bantams. The only problem with my Silkie is that she is the bully. She even argues with the rooster

Off topic I know but um... what kind of awesome chicken is the one is your profile photo?

 

[702marine]

So my one slikie in my mixed flock has gone broody in the last few days. She is not aggressive in any way when I have tried to view the eggs under her. She is really guarding them though. I do not have a roo so her eggs are not fertile. I do however have 6 fertile eggs in the incubator that have 5 days left till hatch date. So my question is can I place the eggs I have ready to hatch under her for her to hatch? I really want her to be able to be a mommy and I want my kids to have the experience of seeing a mother hen caring for her babies. Should I just place 2 of them under her? Can I place the newly hatched babies under her? Suggestions please...

 

[Sylvester017]

So my one slikie in my mixed flock has gone broody in the last few days. She is not aggressive in any way when I have tried to view the eggs under her. She is really guarding them though. I do not have a roo so her eggs are not fertile. I do however have 6 fertile eggs in the incubator that have 5 days left till hatch date. So my question is can I place the eggs I have ready to hatch under her for her to hatch? I really want her to be able to be a mommy and I want my kids to have the experience of seeing a mother hen caring for her babies. Should I just place 2 of them under her? Can I place the newly hatched babies under her? Suggestions please...

If you swap eggs do it after roost time quickly but quietly. Less stressful for the hen. She'll love the eggs - have you ever watched videos of how hens steal other eggs for their own nest so new eggs are not a problem. Eventually swap out all the eggs so she isn't trying to hatch the non-fertile eggs.

 

[702marine]

If you swap eggs do it after roost time quickly but quietly.  Less stressful for the hen.  She'll love the eggs - have you ever watched videos of how hens steal other eggs for their own nest so new eggs are not a problem.  Eventually swap out all the eggs so she isn't trying to hatch the non-fertile eggs.

How will it work out with her and the babies with the others in the flock?

 

[Sylvester017]

I have a mixed flock of free range layers and bantams. The only problem with my Silkie is that she is the bully. She even argues with the rooster

My two Silkie hens moods fluctuate depending on whether they are brooding or moulting. When they are both in good moods they get along fine. But whenever one or the other goes broody or moulting they can be cranky, combative, frumpy or just plain unpleasant until the mood passes. However my oldest Silkie is currently the leader of the flock and she postures against the others to let them know she's the leader but nothing dangerous. The LF just jump over her or run away faster!

 

[Sylvester017]

How will it work out with her and the babies with the others in the flock?

Not a good idea IMO if you have a mixed flock in a small area or coop. The momma could get hurt defending her chicks from the other fowl. If possible it will be less stressful if they aren't mixed with other fowl until the chicks have been "trained" by the momma. I'm sure there are 50 different opinions but this is just mine. If you have a large pen then fence off some of it so the chicks can't get hurt yet momma and chicks can still see and be with the big flock. Mobile chicken tractors are nice for mommas and chicks moving them around an open yard in safety where all the chickens can see each other but not hurt the chicks.

 

[chick rookie]

So my one slikie in my mixed flock has gone broody in the last few days. She is not aggressive in any way when I have tried to view the eggs under her. She is really guarding them though. I do not have a roo so her eggs are not fertile. I do however have 6 fertile eggs in the incubator that have 5 days left till hatch date. So my question is can I place the eggs I have ready to hatch under her for her to hatch? I really want her to be able to be a mommy and I want my kids to have the experience of seeing a mother hen caring for her babies. Should I just place 2 of them under her? Can I place the newly hatched babies under her? Suggestions please...

how long has she been sitting I had a broody hen that sat for 8 days and then poof she was done and she did all the normal sitting hen things, I was about to give her good eggs. if your eggs are that close to hatching I don't know if I would want to take the chance. Just Saying.

I am new to silkies. I have 2 just over 4 months old. They are still so tiny! Does anyone have any photos of one standing next to a standard chicken so I can get an idea of how big they get? How old are they when they reach full size? I am terrified they aren't getting enough food or something, lol. There are 2 feeders in the run though so they don't have to compete with the big girls. They are on scratch and peck grower, which I am not sure about because of all the powdery supplements mixed with the grains. The powdery stuff clogs the feeder and I don't know if they are getting any of the supplements. Argh. I want to feed organic especially to my egg layers but it is hard to find! Can I feed everyone including the laying hens starter? I found organic manna pro starter at my feed store. This way the little silkies get a higher protein feed. Of course I always provide oyster shell free choice.

This is the only close pic I could find with the exception of these 2 Reds I don't mix my Silkies with my LF. These 4 are the same age 2 Silkies and 2 production Reds. hope this gives you some ideal.