Silkie thread!

[Sylvester017]

Trying to rehome a few silkie roos as well. We actually do butcher most of our roos but Silkies are so small that if we can rehome even for a few $'s I would rather do that. They are so precious.

I also try to re-home silkies I will NOT butcher them. They're too precious.

We lucked out finding homes for our two unwanted cockerels even though we loved them - we're not zoned for roos! In advance - before getting chickens - I lined up a couple people who would take an unwanted chicken should we get a roo by accident or a mean bully hen. We found an egg seller who would take the laying bullies and another farm that takes unwanted cockerels or battery hens to give them a forever home. It's good to research in advance before suddenly trying to figure out what to do with pets you don't want to see butchered. Both of our cockerels were dolls and we certainly didn't want to see them on a cuisine menu. A Silkie breeder near us gives her beautiful cockerels away free no questions asked and that's the pits about hatching eggs or being a breeder. Nice if you can get $$$ for cockerels but no one wants a crowing pet chicken and some of those Silkie boys never shut up. We tried to keep our boy he was so sweet but ultimately had to give him up. Even on big acreages some crowing cockerels can sound miles away. It just takes one neighboring property to complain for the authorities to shut down a backyard flock. Better a cockerel goes into your own soup pot than someone else's for all the time and money you invested in him. Keep researching and you might be lucky to find a farm who will have the space to take another cockerel.

I still get sad about giving away this young Partridge cockerel 5 years ago!


This Breda boy was mistakenly shipped to us with issues and broken toe quills. After nursing him and finding what a sweet cockerel he was a friend took him to her rescue farm and has made him the family's indoor-outdoor pet chicken!


Truly, GL to all of you looking for forever homes for your cockerels! Post your success stories so we can be relieved that not all unwanted males go to the freezer.

 

[QueenMisha]

Well, apparently I have somehow managed to acquire some of the few Silkies out there who aren't good mothers.

My chicks from my White hen and my Silkie X Bantam Cochin hen were due today. When I went down there this morning, I found each hen had hatched two chicks (from a total of 5 eggs per hen). Each of them also had one egg on its way to hatching. I candled the eggs (haven't done that in about a week) and removed one from each nest that had obviously died a while back. I then noticed one egg missing from Green (the White's) nest. I looked a little harder and found a hatched but dead Silkie chick. She appeared to have crushed it beneath her leg. So that was disappointing, but I figured, hey, even Silkie momma's aren't perfect, and chalked it up to an unfortunate accident.

So I checked on them again about an hour ago. Green's egg had hatched - and she had crushed the SECOND chick. I think the stupid bird smothered it under her foot again.

I went to move the two live chicks over to One Eye (the Cochin cross), but then I heard frantic cheering from beneath her as well. I cradled Green's chicks in my shirt for a moment and checked under One Eye. Now this stupid hen had pooped - all over one of the chicks. The poor thing's head was covered in it, and it's whole body was wet.

At this point I got pretty exasperated. These birds are clearly terrible at their jobs. I collected all four chicks and brought them into my brooder, after cleaning the poopy chick with warm water. One Eye still has two eggs, one of which is still attempting to hatch and the other of which has pipped internally. I'm thinking I'm probably going to take those away too if/when they hatch.

So, yeah, my broody hen hatch has been a mild disaster. But, I did come out of it with 4 chicks, and I also have incubator babies hatching today (3 Silkies hatched and 5 more pipped!) so it hasn't been a terrible loss. I've also found that certain hens will never be allowed to hatch chicks again...

Pics of the new babies coming later.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Does anyone else's Silkies need their toenails trimmed? I have 3 Silkies and a few Polish & Plymoths but theirs are fine. I have doe trimmers just wasn't sure.

HI, yes I trim mine when they start to twist because they will eventually cause an injury to the bird itself. I just use human clippers, they are generally quite soft. Only take a little at a time as with any black nails it can be difficult to judge where to stop. In case of bleeding , have some cornflour on hand.

 

[Bensdad2009]

Here are my two silkies. Not sure what gender they are yet but they look a bit different

 

[Lamaremybabies]

Here are my two silkies. Not sure what gender they are yet but they look a bit different

Just a guess but I think the one in the back is a cockerel.

 

[QueenMisha]

Assorted peeps from today's and last week's hatches

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

 

[getreal]

can someone sex my silkie for sure? 1 year old. In a seat because she can't walk due to wry neck. the long neck feathers makes me think a male but the tail isn't real full like my other rooster. But I had cut it to help keep her clean when she couldn't stand alone. Also she has never laid an egg or crowed since she has been in the house. Nov 2 2015

 

[silkiecuddles]

can someone sex my silkie for sure? 1 year old. In a seat because she can't walk due to wry neck. the long neck feathers makes me think a male but the tail isn't real full like my other rooster. But I had cut it to help keep her clean when she couldn't stand alone. Also she has never laid an egg or crowed since she has been in the house. Nov 2 2015

I'd say male, judging by the body shape. Could wry neck of altered growth a little bit or sow thing? It's a very pretty bird

 

[Lamaremybabies]

My silkie. He's two months old.