Silkie thread!

[Sylvester017]

So, this is a grey partridge? Why would they give me partridge when I ordered solid colors?

Maybe they figured you wouldn't mind a Partridge as long as it was a Blue one??? Partridge are my favourite. The boys are really stunning.

 

[lin04]

Funny you mention using the coop ramp. Happened to take these pics yesterday of the Silkies toodling around before going into the coop for the evening - they mill around and coo to each other for half an hour or so and savor the last moments of the evening before slowly ascending the ladder ramp. We had to prop up the level of the ramp that came with the coop - otherwise it was too steep for the littles and they had to flap wings to get a running start. Now they can leisurely ascend the ladder to pause, talk to each other, and continue their leisurely stroll:

Hahaha adorable!! They are so much fun to watch. Thank you for the pictures!

 

[ChickenGrass]

Hahaha adorable!!  They are so much fun to watch.  Thank you for the pictures!

I always do this
X2

 

[Roo92]

I have silkie hens that are hatching eggs like crazy. Only problem is they are not sitting on them after they hatch and I'm find in chicks that have come down the ramp and sometimes the adults have pecked them or they are dead. They steal each other's eggs as soon as someone gets up. So now I have a hen that bites hard I heard chicks under her wrapped my hand up and got them to put inside with other chicks and now I'm thinking should I have left them to see if she would've taken care of them. I'm new at this my incubator was a piece of junk so I decided to let the girls be my incubator. In the picture you can see the roo is black most of my chicks are black.

 

[ChickenGrass]

Hi there
You can not tell weather they are hens or roosters at that age.
They are very cute though
Goodluck with them

 

[Chicken Egg 17]

Hi there
You can not tell weather they are hens or roosters at that age.
They are very cute though
Goodluck with them

X2

 

[Lil Peeps]

I keep thinking about giving them a bath.  I will be attempting that soon! lol  

Good luck when you do! I hope your silkies like water more than mine! Lol. But Chai smells so good now after her bath and her little feet are so clean I wouldn't hesitate to bathe her again.

 

[Zgm12]

I have silkie hens that are hatching eggs like crazy. Only problem is they are not sitting on them after they hatch and I'm find in chicks that have come down the ramp and sometimes the adults have pecked them or they are dead. They steal each other's eggs as soon as someone gets up. So now I have a hen that bites hard I heard chicks under her wrapped my hand up and got them to put inside with other chicks and now I'm thinking should I have left them to see if she would've taken care of them. I'm new at this my incubator was a piece of junk so I decided to let the girls be my incubator. In the picture you can see the roo is black most of my chicks are black.

Broody hens take the best care of chicks when they're separate from the flock. If you're hatching eggs you should separate the other chickens from the broody and keep the coop closed (make sure the chicks can't get out). As far as moving them from their mother, I think it's better to be safe than sorry especially when your dealing with your precious Silkie babies. If there was a chance they could get hurt with the hen, then you made the right choice by moving them into a brooder.

 

[jas humbert]

I agree. I found I really need to separate broodies for the first few weeks with new chicks. Adjoining my big pen, I added a 4 x 8 broody pen attached to plastic deck storage box. I cut a hole in one side of box and it has a hinged lid on top. The chicks can walk in and out at ground level and see the rest of the flock though the fence. 4x8 is plenty of room when they are tiny and staying close to mom. Somewhere around 3 weeks, the moms get to wanting back with rest and I open to gate in between (only when I'm there at first) and slowly integrate them to the rest of the flock. We have had very little trouble this way and the bigguns have already seen the babies through the fence and mostly ignore them.

But not every broody is going to be a good mom though. You may find out the hard way that once in a while broody hens only like to set- not raise chicks .I had that happen and I had to give two broody hatches to one broody and the other girl went off and never looked back.

 

[Roo92]

I agree. I found I really need to separate broodies for the first few weeks with new chicks. Adjoining my big pen, I added a 4 x 8 broody pen attached to plastic deck storage box. I cut a hole in one  side of box and it has a hinged lid on top. The chicks can walk in and out at ground level and see the rest of the flock though the fence.  4x8 is plenty of room when they are tiny and staying close to mom. Somewhere around 3 weeks, the moms get to wanting back with rest and I open to gate in between (only when I'm there at first) and slowly integrate them to the rest of the flock. We have  had very little trouble this way and the bigguns have already seen the babies through the fence and mostly ignore them. 

But not every broody is going to be a good mom though. You may find out the hard way that once in a while broody hens only like to set- not raise chicks .I had that happen and I had to give  two broody hatches  to one broody and the other girl  went off and never looked back. 

That is a great idea. For a second I thought maybe I should stick all six little ones under her then I wouldn't have to have them inside. I have a pen outside with small older chicks in outside that I could put next to the coop it has rabbit wire so no one can get out. Thanks for the ideas. I love my silkie chicks it's like Christmas when they hatch you never know what color you're gonna get until it hatches.