Silkie thread!

[QueenMisha]

Hi, I bought some silkie eggs from a lady locally and hatched them. I think a couple might have a mix in them, and they are just shy of 7 weeks. I realize this breed is very difficult to sex, but I would welcome any guesses. And or opinions as to what sex they are leaning towards. We are going to rehome any roosters. We are planning on just keeping 1 rooster.
I have never owned silkies, so I am clueless as far as sexing goes.
Ok here they are:
Chick 1

Chick 2

Chick 3

Beauitful birds! They look purebred, most first gen Silkie mixes are flat feathered because the Silkie gene is recessive. Chick #1 looks like a plain old Black. No clue as to sex. Chick #2 seems to be a Partridge, and based on color she should be a little girl! Chick #3 looks like a grey, which if I recall correctly, is actually Silver Penciled, so that one appears to be a pullet as well based on color.

 

[Sylvester017]

thanks i'll keep that in mind. i don't eally have touble with DE but a little extra protection never hurt anyone. and i don't like ants either. every spring through to half the winter we get ants in the kitchen, the bathroom and my parents bedroom. the only reason i don't have ants in my room is because i don't eat or drink in my room.

Ants are difficult critters to get rid of -- not eating anywhere but the kitchen is our house rule. But even so, single ants will be found exploring other rooms in the house -- especially before a rain storm is due they step up their foraging. That's how I gauge when to cover the coop outside because I'll find single exploratory ants in the house telling me rain is due. I don't want to use commercial insect poisons or DE because of the hazards around humans, chickens, or other pets so a quick squirt of Poultry Protector does the trick and is safe no matter how often it is used and there's no offensive smell like commercial poison sprays. DE is not extra protection since even the manufacturers dance around claims of it's effectiveness - it is a safety hazard to humans and animals.

A 16-oz bottle of Poultry Protector lasted me a 12-month year with 3 chickens and their coop. With 4 hens I didn't have to buy another bottle until 10 months later. I was going to order the 32-oz bottle but found I didn't need to keep that much on hand for my little flock. A couple times a year during dry months I will spray MAX Home Defense around the base of our house foundation to deter insects but our chickens don't have access to our house foundation so there's no poison issues but DE is a fine powder that irritates human and animal respiratory systems/skin/eyes, blows away at the slightest breeze or washes away, and requires safety clothing to even handle it. Albeit, still a personal choice with unsuspecting consumers.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Beauitful birds! They look purebred, most first gen Silkie mixes are flat feathered because the Silkie gene is recessive. Chick #1 looks like a plain old Black. No clue as to sex. Chick #2 seems to be a Partridge, and based on color she should be a little girl! Chick #3 looks like a grey, which if I recall correctly, is actually Silver Penciled, so that one appears to be a pullet as well based on color.

I agree. I'd guess your black to be a cockerel based on that swept back crest, but that could look very different in a couple of weeks

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hi, I bought some silkie eggs from a lady locally and hatched them. I think a couple might have a mix in them, and they are just shy of 7 weeks. I realize this breed is very difficult to sex, but I would welcome any guesses. And or opinions as to what sex they are leaning towards. We are going to rehome any roosters. We are planning on just keeping 1 rooster.
I have never owned silkies, so I am clueless as far as sexing goes.
Ok here they are:
Chick 1

Chick 2

Chick 3

Still a little early to sex with any certainty but I'd say you have a black/blue, partridge and a silver partridge .

 

[Alex1010]

My Silkie's roosted for the first time ever! Took them 5 months.

 

[Sylvester017]

My Silkie's roosted for the first time ever! Took them 5 months.

Tell me your secret! Mine have slept in nestboxes for 5 years. The only perch they've used is the 2x2" threshold walking into the coop LOL! I don't mind since Silkies are pile-on-the-floor nesters so having them in the nestboxes is better than on the colder floor. I even have one LF that occasionally prefers a nestbox rather than the perch. I don't want anyone telling me where I should sleep so I let the chickens pick their own spot

 

[Alex1010]

Tell me your secret!  Mine have slept in nestboxes for 5 years.  The only perch they've used is the 2x2" threshold walking into the coop LOL!  I don't mind since Silkies are pile-on-the-floor nesters so having them in the nestboxes is better than on the colder floor.  I even have one LF that occasionally prefers a nestbox rather than the perch.  I don't want anyone telling me where I should sleep so I let the chickens pick their own spot

I have them in a real tree branch, occasionally one slept up there but tonight all of them did. I don't really like any of my birds sleeping in the nest box. Bc they poop and then that creates mites & your eggs will be dirty. (Unless you clean it everyday) that's just my preference

 

[tjo804]

Mine have always roosted at night but I put a fireplace log in the brooder with them for play and sleep I do that about day 4

 

[Hholly]

Quote:

Quote:
Thanks for the info y'all! Looks like I have some trimming to do.

 

[Frindizzle]

Hey guys! Been a while since I've been on here! Don't know if you remember, but check out Slimy Bob now! He's still sweet as sugar and Slimy as ever! Lol

Cute!