Silkie thread!

[LadyVictorian]

I am lurking and reading your conversation. You said you have ISA brown chicks. Have you had them previously? I have not, but I just got three. I have never before had chicks that are so
calm and unafraid. Are all isa brown like that, or did i just get lucky?

Mine are super friendly as well, they will hop into my lap. I had a redstar before I ever had these guys and she was very friendly as well. Use to come up to me all the time and talk to me. I am very pleased with the ISA browns, they are total sweethearts and actually a LOT friendlier than my silkie hen even. I am pretty sure they will be as good an egg layer as my redstar hen use to be. She was a remarkable layer and I don't think she ever skipped a day in her life laying an egg.

Ok, not a great pic, but here are my Silkies (supposed to be Bantam) and my White Leghorns side by side... I would assume Bantams would be much smaller.... The WLs are a couple days older than the Silkies.

This silkies look much larger than my 4 month olds o.o unless you have very small leghorns. They seem fatter too and without much head fuzz. Could just be that they are hatchery silkies which don't really follow breed standards and sometimes aren't purebreds either.

 

[kajira]

Mine are super friendly as well, they will hop into my lap. I had a redstar before I ever had these guys and she was very friendly as well. Use to come up to me all the time and talk to me. I am very pleased with the ISA browns, they are total sweethearts and actually a LOT friendlier than my silkie hen even. I am pretty sure they will be as good an egg layer as my redstar hen use to be. She was a remarkable layer and I don't think she ever skipped a day in her life laying an egg.
This silkies look much larger than my 4 month olds o.o unless you have very small leghorns. They seem fatter too and without much head fuzz. Could just be that they are hatchery silkies which don't really follow breed standards and sometimes aren't purebreds either.

Weird, they do look larger.................... ^.^

however, I have a leghorn and a white silkie - i'll compare and take a pic for you tomorrow. They are both producing eggs.

 

[LadyVictorian]

Also looks like they have single combs, they might be mutts, not purebreds. Silkies normally have walnut combs and single comb can mean they have something else mixed into their background. They will still make good pets but shouldn't be breed for show purpose and can never be shown either. It's a DQ feature.

 

[MrsKris]

They are about 7-8 weeks old. I think I have 2 girls and boys. The "boys" have longer wattles and very pronounced single black combs that go half way then turn to fluff. The "girls" have Tiny wattles an almost no comb, more like a raised flat spot.....?? I bought them at Tractor Supply from the "bantam" bin. Didn't really want Silkies, but ended up with 4. I love them, no matter what! They are very calm and friendly.

 

[kajira]

They are about 7-8 weeks old. I think I have 2 girls and boys. The "boys" have longer wattles and very pronounced single black combs. The "girls" have Tiny wattles an almost no comb, more like a raised flat spot.....?? I bought them at Tractor Supply from the "bantam" bin

pics?

 

[LadyVictorian]

Yeah they are certainly a mix, silkie's should have walnut combs not single combs and they should be no bigger than 22 ounces. They also don't appear to have very prominent crest feathers. Could have been crossed with Cochins or any number of chickens at the hatchery. Perhaps to improve production. Like I said, hatcheries never follow breed standards.

 

[MrsKris]

I will post close ups ASAP! My phone was almost dead when this was snapped...And I'm betting these are at least 22oz now! Lol

 

[MrsKris]

@kajira @LadyVictorian Not a good pic, but did find one of one I think is a pullet... See, no comb!

 

[LadyVictorian]

Wow they are huge, definitely a cross of some kind.

 

[Hinotori]

New coop put together. I bought it just for putting broody silkies and chicks in. I have the ladder hole blocked so no one can go down.

I picked the two broodies from Raditz' pen to go in there since my hens usually co-brood and there could be up to 15 chicks. It's just a change of location for the hens. They've been there and know the drill. One one left stole all the nest eggs and settled right in. They will be ready for chicks tomorrow.