Silkie thread!

[Rowsdower]

Does anyone keep the fluff trimmed around their eyes?

In my very "fluffy" cases, yes, I've lost far too many non-crested birds to hawks around here. I know it's time when they start shaking their heads when at the feeder. Sort of like they're trying to shake it out of their eyes. I never trim their bums, however. I hear a lot of folks talk about trimming vents to increase fertility. I get nearly 100% fertility and I have never had to soil a scissor. And my guys are FLUFFY.

 

[kathie grey]

Wondering if I have lavender silkies. In my last hatch I had 3 babies that started out white and ended up turning a beautiful silver grey at around 2 weeks old. I know I have lavender genes in some of my chickens. Also...it ordered some eggs from a person that has lavender...same thing. One of the light color chicks from there is now a powdery grey color.
They are a pinch darker on the tops of their heads....like a silver partridge but their bodies are solid light grey...no variation in the feathers.

 

[torrelee]

I just noticed a red feather in the wing of my 3 week old splash chick. Is this likely to be a fluke or more like an autumnal leakage, probably a cockerel indicator? The roo was black over a splash hen. Thanks for your opinions!

 

[ikkin]

My silkie laid her first egg with us after three weeks of being with me I'm so happy!

It's the smaller white egg

And this is her and my sweet girl Beans running the yard together. They both follow me where ever I go

 

[prizepete]

So I have a bit of a dilemma, I thought I would run it through to you guys, Awhile ago I had a silkie chick that was being picked on my the other chicks and wasn't getting any food. I have had her seperaded for about 2 weeks. I am thinking that she isn't going to get along with my full sized chickens. So I think that i have to build a little coop for silkies. SOOOOO.... I am thinking that i will have to get 2 more silkies so that my chick won't be lonely... Only problem is she is about 8 weeks old, and I can't find any chicks about that age for sale around me... Could I get a few baby babies or should I get something a bit older? I am going to TRY to get the other chicks to accept her as I don't really want to have 2 coops but I will do anything to keep this little chick healthy. Sugestions???

 

[MumsyIII]

I just noticed a red feather in the wing of my 3 week old splash chick. Is this likely to be a fluke or more like an autumnal leakage, probably a cockerel indicator? The roo was black over a splash hen. Thanks for your opinions!

Three weeks is young. I would think autosomal red leakage could be what's going on if they continue to come in red in the male pattern areas. One feather wouldn't keep me awake nights unless I wanted to breed breeding quality Splash from this chick someday. Red in the shoulders and chest would be worrisome. The chick is a long ways off from knowing if it's just one red wing feather or if when the chick is an adult and after molting, the red wing feather grows back in. The Splash chick would then have a DQ and make it pet quality. Not an issue if the chick is never destined for the show bench. Autosomal red is very difficult to breed out of a pen once it gets established.

 

[mom of silkies]

Is red harder to more difficult to breed out then white?

 

[Fancychooklady]

So I have a bit of a dilemma, I thought I would run it through to you guys, Awhile ago I had a silkie chick that was being picked on my the other chicks and wasn't getting any food. I have had her seperaded for about 2 weeks. I am thinking that she isn't going to get along with my full sized chickens. So I think that i have to build a little coop for silkies. SOOOOO.... I am thinking that i will have to get 2 more silkies so that my chick won't be lonely... Only problem is she is about 8 weeks old, and I can't find any chicks about that age for sale around me... Could I get a few baby babies or should I get something a bit older? I am going to TRY to get the other chicks to accept her as I don't really want to have 2 coops but I will do anything to keep this little chick healthy. Sugestions???

Even if you could find a few chicks 4-6 weeks of age you should be able to add them to your silkie coop. Failing that I would look for some pol pullets.

 

[WVduckchick]

So I have a bit of a dilemma, I thought I would run it through to you guys, Awhile ago I had a silkie chick that was being picked on my the other chicks and wasn't getting any food. I have had her seperaded for about 2 weeks. I am thinking that she isn't going to get along with my full sized chickens. So I think that i have to build a little coop for silkies. SOOOOO.... I am thinking that i will have to get 2 more silkies so that my chick won't be lonely... Only problem is she is about 8 weeks old, and I can't find any chicks about that age for sale around me... Could I get a few baby babies or should I get something a bit older? I am going to TRY to get the other chicks to accept her as I don't really want to have 2 coops but I will do anything to keep this little chick healthy. Sugestions???

I have 2 silkies with 8 golden comets. The silkies are a few weeks older, but a bit smaller. They get picked on a little, but nothing bad. They seem to have learned their place in the pecking order. But they have never been kept away from the food and water, so I see your dilemma. I would shoot for something similar in size, even if the ages are a little different. Maybe even just one extra, so you could try to integrate them all again later, after the 2 have bonded and they have a buddy to run to lol.

 

[tjo804]

So I have a bit of a dilemma, I thought I would run it through to you guys, Awhile ago I had a silkie chick that was being picked on my the other chicks and wasn't getting any food. I have had her seperaded for about 2 weeks. I am thinking that she isn't going to get along with my full sized chickens. So I think that i have to build a little coop for silkies. SOOOOO.... I am thinking that i will have to get 2 more silkies so that my chick won't be lonely... Only problem is she is about 8 weeks old, and I can't find any chicks about that age for sale around me... Could I get a few baby babies or should I get something a bit older? I am going to TRY to get the other chicks to accept her as I don't really want to have 2 coops but I will do anything to keep this little chick healthy. Sugestions???

I had a Silkie roo who fit in my flock just fine once the alpha Hen told him he needs to treat the ladies like a gentleman and not like he was a horney teenager. one time put in his place is all it took. On the other hand I had a problem with one of my new little silkies she got trampled by one of the packing peanuts and some of the things I read were about protecting them! they are delicate and can get brain damage fairly easily. I would suggest you have 2 coops I will to keep mine safe. as far as lonely she has you and the dog so far so if you raise up a couple chicks I think she will be fine with that too.

Maybe someone else could give better advise. That is just MHO.