Silkie thread!

[ladychick328]

Hi! I'm new to chickens and especially Silkies. I have two babies that I got from tractor supply that are doing well, I got a black silkie rooster on Saturday from a poultry trades day, the breeder said he was two years old, and that he had been treated for mites, I believe her and didn't check and didn't even know what to check for, so I took him to the coop and chicken hard and put him in with my girls, he is the sweetest thing!!! I went to check on them Sunday and he was sitting on the rust roost in the coop, I picked him up to give him some lovin and his neck smelled bad, I looked closely and discovered tons of mites on his neck. I messaged the lady and she was very apologetic and is refunding my money for him plus what it cost for the mite dust. I took him home, bathed him in dawn, blow dried him and dusted him this morning. He acts like he doesn't feel very good, he was crowing at 4 this morning, he's just not moving around much. im wondering how stressed silkies get? I know it will take him a couple of days to recover from the mites, any other suggestions to help him feel better?

 

[FishMtFarm]

Just a little time and keep the mites at bay and he'll be fine. Northern Fowl mites life cycle is only 2 to 3 days so an infestation doesn't take long. They are hard to get rid off and are probably in your coop now as they crawl on and off the birds. Keep the coop sprayed and the birds dusted. I found putting 1ml of advantage two on the nap of the neck keeps them off the birds. Make sure it's advantage, not advantix.

 

[CannedMonster]

Hi! I'm new to chickens and especially Silkies. I have two babies that I got from tractor supply that are doing well, I got a black silkie rooster on Saturday from a poultry trades day, the breeder said he was two years old, and that he had been treated for mites, I believe her and didn't check and didn't even know what to check for, so I took him to the coop and chicken hard and put him in with my girls, he is the sweetest thing!!! I went to check on them Sunday and he was sitting on the rust roost in the coop, I picked him up to give him some lovin and his neck smelled bad, I looked closely and discovered tons of mites on his neck. I messaged the lady and she was very apologetic and is refunding my money for him plus what it cost for the mite dust. I took him home, bathed him in dawn, blow dried him and dusted him this morning. He acts like he doesn't feel very good, he was crowing at 4 this morning, he's just not moving around much. im wondering how stressed silkies get? I know it will take him a couple of days to recover from the mites, any other suggestions to help him feel better?

It's too bad you have to deal with mites now but at least he has someone dedicated to helping him.
Also...I'd bet my paycheck he's a Cochin/Silkie cross not a pure Silkie.
I really think he's beautiful regardless! And just think of how much prettier he'll be when he gets rid of those mites!
You should treat for mites again in 2 or 3 weeks to be sure you got any that hatched.
I'd give him some Nutri drench or something to bolster him...sounds like the mites have weakened him. Poor guy

 

[ladychick328]

It's too bad you have to deal with mites now but at least he has someone dedicated to helping him.
Also...I'd bet my paycheck he's a Cochin/Silkie cross not a pure Silkie.
I really think he's beautiful regardless! And just think of how much prettier he'll be when he gets rid of those mites!
You should treat for mites again in 2 or 3 weeks to be sure you got any that hatched.
I'd give him some Nutri drench or something to bolster him...sounds like the mites have weakened him. Poor guy

Thank you! He already looked much more shiny this morning after he got all dried from his bath

 

[FishMtFarm]

That's a pure Silkie unless the Cochin was silkied cause you need two copies of the silkied gene to get Silkie.

 

[CannedMonster]

That's a pure Silkie unless the Cochin was silkied cause you need two copies of the silkied gene to get Silkie.

Oh I see. I looked at your photos again and I can see that he has a lot of Silkie features.
I thought he looked almost too fluffy for a Silkie lol.

 

[FishMtFarm]

He most certainly does have that big body like a Cochin. I definately see what your seeing. I have a birchen Silkie rooster whom has that similar look and I LOVE him!

 

[Bauermeister.farm]

Hey silkie owners! I just started a flock of seven blue and white/buff silkie chicks. They have all been so fun and entertaining. My question for you all is about socializing them. For the first few weeks I have been holding and snuggling them, trying to feed them worms or egg yolk, and just sitting by their pen and humming to them, but as they get older they are getting more and more afraid of me. I swear I am friendly and nice! Is this just a phase and I should continue to shower them with love and hold them, or should I back off and try something different? Thanks a bunch!

 

[CannedMonster]

Hey silkie owners! I just started a flock of seven blue and white/buff silkie chicks. They have all been so fun and entertaining. My question for you all is about socializing them. For the first few weeks I have been holding and snuggling them, trying to feed them worms or egg yolk, and just sitting by their pen and humming to them, but as they get older they are getting more and more afraid of me. I swear I am friendly and nice! Is this just a phase and I should continue to shower them with love and hold them, or should I back off and try something different? Thanks a bunch!

I'd just keep doing what you're doing and eventually they'll come around.
It's scary being a tiny chick.
Mine seems to hate me...
But i've seen a lot of threads on here about the subject and everyone says that some will get used to you and some will always be skittish.
Sometimes they sweeten up after they start laying.

 

[CannedMonster]

He most certainly does have that big body like a Cochin. I definately see what your seeing. I have a birchen Silkie rooster whom has that similar look and I LOVE him!

I love your Showgirl chick in your avatar!