Silkie thread!

[lightchick]

My paint eggs hatched....................lol not exactly what I was expecting, but I love them!

They are soooo adorable!

 

[lightchick]

Quote: I tried quarantining with in my garage, but my whole flock found the new chicken in less then a week! The new chicken was healthy thankfully though. Lol It's pretty hard to keep free range chickens from finding any new chickens.

 

[kada6305]

I tried quarantining with in my garage, but my whole flock found the new chicken in less then a week! The new chicken was healthy thankfully though. Lol It's pretty hard to keep free range chickens from finding any new chickens.

I was thinking of just leaving them in the dog crate on the porch...not sure f they would have enough room to not start peckign eachother from boredom. It's a big crate, enough room to put roosts in for them. And a nesting box.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I have 6 Silkie chicks in an XL dog crate on my porch. They have a low roost, hanging feeder, a box to huddle in to keep them out of the weather and a water bottle stuck on the side. They're happy as little clams in there.
2 hens should be fine living in a crate for quarantine. Good luck

 

[Sustained]

Probably a stupid question but I was at the feed store and the cashier (also the person who orders chicks in the spring) was asking me about the stuff I was holding in my hand and when I mentioned my silkie chicks she asked if they were standard or bantam silkies? I've never heard of a 'standard' silkie. I thought they were all bantams? Am I missing something or is she as unknowledgeable about chickens as I've concluded long before this?

 

[Orps]

Probably a stupid question but I was at the feed store and the cashier (also the person who orders chicks in the spring) was asking me about the stuff I was holding in my hand and when I mentioned my silkie chicks she asked if they were standard or bantam silkies? I've never heard of a 'standard' silkie. I thought they were all bantams? Am I missing something or is she as unknowledgeable about chickens as I've concluded long before this?

From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkie

Silkies are often mistakenly called a bantam breed, and although they are considered bantams in some countries, this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only four pounds (1.8 kg), and females weighing three pounds (1.36 kg).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 36 ounces (1 kg), and females that are 32 ounces (910 grams).[6]

 

[Sustained]

From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkie

Silkies are often mistakenly called a bantam breed, and although they are considered bantams in some countries, this varies according to region and many breed standards class them officially as large fowl; the bantam Silkie is actually a separate variety most of the time. Almost all North American strains of the breed are bantam sized, but in Europe the standard-sized is the original version. However, even standard Silkies are relatively small chickens, with the males weighing only four pounds (1.8 kg), and females weighing three pounds (1.36 kg).[3] The American Standard of Perfection calls for males that are 36 ounces (1 kg), and females that are 32 ounces (910 grams).[6]

That's really interesting. Well I'm glad she at least knows SOMETHING about chickens lol after she told me that I needed to get a rooster or I wouldn't get any eggs I pretty much started avoiding her when I go in to buy anything. Are standard size silkies common in the US? I've been haunting silkie sites trying to learn more about them and never ran across this information. Never thought to check Wikipedia

 

[Fancychooklady]

That's really interesting. Well I'm glad she at least knows SOMETHING about chickens lol after she told me that I needed to get a rooster or I wouldn't get any eggs I pretty much started avoiding her when I go in to buy anything. Are standard size silkies common in the US? I've been haunting silkie sites trying to learn more about them and never ran across this information. Never thought to check Wikipedia  

Apparently there are standard size in Australia but I've never seen one and I think the difference is more in weight than anything else.

http://www.freewebs.com/silkiebreeders/silkiestandards.htm

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Anyone want to critique my rooster?

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

Hi! I'm introducing myself here because tonight we are getting our first silkies! I already have about 30 layers, so I'm not completely new to chickens, but these will be our first "pet" breed, the first kind of chicken that isn't your basic hardy full sized farm bird. They are actually my son's, who wanted a bird we would promised not to cull or eat, etc. LOL Is there anything we really ought to know about Silkies that might not be the same as our other birds? Thank you!

Silkies are pretty defenseless against bullying by bigger birds. Be careful if you are planning on putting them in the same pen. Silkies with really big top knots are the most vulnerable. A really strong peck by a big bird can kill a silkie youngster pretty easily.