Silkie thread!

[Sylvester017]

I think it would be better for her, if you brought one of your other ones so she's not alone.

That sounds like a good idea. We currently have a quarantined single chicken in the house and couldn't find her one day when she crawled up to a mirror to snooze next to her reflection. Birds have a flock mentality even if it's only their own reflection. Either get a gentle companion or a mirror for your lone girl. Wildlife rescued a Pelican who could never fly again and by accident they discovered he was less grouchy when he had a mirror to see his own reflection - there were a lot of ducks and chickens and geese in the yard but he didn't mellow out until he saw the "other" Pelican reflection. Flock mentality.

 

[silkiecuddles]

I am fairly new to raising chickens.  I bought 5 different breed of chicks and then about two months later decided that I really wanted to add some silkies to the group.  I kept them separate and then gradually added them with the older chickens.  What I am noticing is that my first 5 chickens have grown to be quite large and my silkies have stayed very small and don't seem to be growing.  They have all been raised with the same feed and I do have the smaller chickens access to feed so they aren't bullied by the larger chickens and unable to eat.  So, they seem to be eating but yet do not seem to be growing much.  Any ideas out there as to why they aren't getting that big?  

Silkies are just a smaller breed, so if your first 5 are large fowl, then it's perfectly fine that the silkie is smaller.

Sylvester: I had two silkies that were the same age but one was much bigger.

 

[Sylvester017]

I am fairly new to raising chickens. I bought 5 different breed of chicks and then about two months later decided that I really wanted to add some silkies to the group. I kept them separate and then gradually added them with the older chickens. What I am noticing is that my first 5 chickens have grown to be quite large and my silkies have stayed very small and don't seem to be growing. They have all been raised with the same feed and I do have the smaller chickens access to feed so they aren't bullied by the larger chickens and unable to eat. So, they seem to be eating but yet do not seem to be growing much. Any ideas out there as to why they aren't getting that big?

I have a little Black Silkie that weighs 2.2 lbs at her heaviest but usually less and a Partridge Silkie that weighs 2.4 lbs at her lightest but usually more. They are mismatched as a pair when side-by-side and my understanding is it's not unusual for Silkie bantams to vary in sizes and weights and that weights/appetites can fluctuate during molt, brooding, illness, weather changes, etc.

Chances are your other breeds are not bantams.

Silkie bantams are probably the largest of the U.S. bantam breeds but still rare for them to be over 2.5 lbs. and not unusual to be only 2-lbs. There are large fowl Silkies in the U.K. (as seen on feathersite.com) but most of the U.S. Silkies are the popular bantam variety. The LF Silkies are lovely but who can resist a Teddy Bear Tribble Silkie Bantam?!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
The standard weights in the US for silkies are 28 oz for pullets, 32 for hens and cockerels and 36 for cocks. There are 2 or 3 breeds that are larger, but you are right; silkie bantams are near the largest of the bantams.

 

[Imhaas2]

Thank you for the information. I have food for them every morning before they are let out to free range all day, so I guess I won't worry about their size, it's just that they still look like baby chicks.

 

[sophiesflock]

Can somebody please post a picture of their (full grown) Silkie beside a regular sized chicken (Orpington, RIR, welsummer etc). I haven't gotten my chicks yet but I will be getting silkies along with regular sized chickens and I'm curious to see the size comparison. Thanks!

 

[bantambury]

Can somebody please post a picture of their (full grown) Silkie beside a regular sized chicken (Orpington, RIR, welsummer etc). I haven't gotten my chicks yet but I will be getting silkies along with regular sized chickens and I'm curious to see the size comparison. Thanks!

i can get one tomorrow for you if anyone else doesnt before then. silkie next to EE

 

[Fancychooklady]

Can somebody please post a picture of their (full grown) Silkie beside a regular sized chicken (Orpington, RIR, welsummer etc). I haven't gotten my chicks yet but I will be getting silkies along with regular sized chickens and I'm curious to see the size comparison. Thanks!

This is my silver partridge in with LF silver laced Wyandotte. Welcome back Sonoran.

 

[blackrose211]

Can somebody please post a picture of their (full grown) Silkie beside a regular sized chicken (Orpington, RIR, welsummer etc). I haven't gotten my chicks yet but I will be getting silkies along with regular sized chickens and I'm curious to see the size comparison. Thanks!

 

[sophiesflock]

Thanks everyone! You have awesome little flocks!