Silkie thread!

[Uzair Ahmed]

What do y'all think. Is this? Cross of frizzle and Silkie?

 

[jajeanpierre]

Is there anyone near me in Texas who has splash or those white and black spotted Silkies? Show quality would be great but honestly, I don't care. I am near San Antonio.

 

[Michelle27]

Since it is getting colder out . When should I put a heat lamp in with my silkies?

 

[Fancychooklady]

Since it is getting colder out . When should I put a heat lamp in with my silkies?

Once the birds are 5-6 weeks old they no longer require heat. A well ventilated , draft free coop with shelter from the elements is all that is required.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Is this the size of a Slikie egg? Or is it possible one of the other chickens laid it? The Marans and the RIR would lay brown, right? My leghorn lays medium sized white eggs. Would a leghorn lay an egg that much smaller?

This is my 9th grader son, Seamus:


This is Stan the Man:

 

[TiaRC]

L

[COLOR=333333]Is this the size of a Slikie egg? Or is it possible one of the other chickens laid it? The Marans and the RIR would lay brown, right? My leghorn lays medium sized white eggs. Would a leghorn lay an egg that much smaller? [/COLOR] This is my 9th grader son, Seamus: This is Stan the Man:

Looks like the first attempt at laying by a Silkie yes. Usually they are a bit bigger than golf balls . So either fluke egg or first egg.

 

[Nippers]

Wyandottes are listed on MyPetChicken.com as a "dominant" personality, my and my friend's experience with Marans are the Cuckoo variety and they are sneaky pecky pickers on smaller or gentler breeds, Leghorns are wonderful prolific layers but anywhere from one to three years of age can become assertive even cannibalistic to weaker gentler flockmates pulling out crest/muff feathers or chewing off combs. These have been our experiences and not necessarily what will happen with your flock except that I would keep Silkies and EEs and Polish separate from the other LF. If you have a very large yard where the gentler breeds can hide out from the LF that would be good. Our yard is just too small to mix gentle with LF peaceably.

Silkies have pecking order squabbles of their own just like any breed but they'll work it out being on equal terms with each other. Sometimes a broody Silkie can get combative with another Silkie but work it out and toodle around in better days together. I have one Silkie that only gets combative where food issues arise or at treats time. The rest of the time she just chest bumps the other Silkie or Ameraucana. I only have 3 chickens left - lost a couple chicks, had to re-home a cockerel, had to re-home a couple cannibalistic Legs and one mean Marans. It's not fun re-homing good chickens that can't get along in a mixed flock so that's when we decided in future to keep under 5-lb birds with gentle reputations to mix with our Silkies.

Size or color of eggs is not so important anymore as having a peaceful flock. I only order juveniles now and no more chicks. I just don't have the room to incubate eggs and set up a brooder that chicks outgrow way too fast. And my DH and I get too attached to the delicate chicks and then grieve when one dies. Our 2 Silkies and Ameraucana have supplied us well with eggs throughout summer but one Silkie is just coming out of broodiness and the Ameraucana is moulting. Only one Silkie is laying right now. Silkies can be terrific layers when not brooding or moulting. The Amer will probably start up laying again in December like she did last year. The erratic laying schedule of 3 hens has prompted us to pre-order a couple gentle non-broody Breda for next Spring who supposedly lay through winter and are a non-combative under-5-lb breed. All inquiries from owners regarding mixing Breda with Silkies have been very favourable and encouraging experiences.

should i build a big chicken proof enclosure or something? what can i do to make sure gabby and cottonball dont get picked on?

 

[veggiegirl]

I have no idea on the subject of chicken harness, but I know with my little pig that I'm trying to teach to walk with a harness & leash, it was suggested to leave it on her all day so she adjusts to the feel. I would LOVE to see a pic of a chicken in a harness!!! I've never heard of such a thing!!

Trying to harness train my pig too I didn't know you could put one on a chicken, I second the request for pics.

 

[sonderah]

Trying to harness train my pig too I didn't know you could put one on a chicken, I second the request for pics.

I still haven't been able to find a harness small enough for my pig. Lol They seem small enough, but she can still get those short little legs out!

 

[Michelle27]

Once the birds are 5-6 weeks old they no longer require heat. A well ventilated , draft free coop with shelter from the elements is all that is required.

Ok thanks I just didn't want them to get cold my aunts silkies had froze last yr during the winter and the gal she got them from said they needed a heat lamp during winter . So I was just curious to when to put one in .