Silkie thread!

[ThePolishPrincess]

Wow, what a beauty. I love her modest, petite expression.

So humbling.

 

[Shellyb]

Hello, I have 7 3week old silkie chicks from Meyers. I have never had silkies before and this is only my 2nd time with chicks. They are really cute but pretty skiddish compared to the EE's I have same age. Not as brave I would say. I don't get to spend as much time as I'd like with them since I have 2 kids under 3 years old. But when I do get to be with them they are pretty comicial. Here's a couple questions i have.

There are a few that do this "stand off" dance every so often. I'm wondering if that is an early clue of a roo? I've never had straight run chicks either.

How long until they are full feathered? I can see an obvious difference between their feathering and the EE's. Will they need a heat lamp longer?

What is the recommended sq footage for them? Coop and run? I know they are on the larger side of the bantams so I'm trying to figure out how many I can get in a 4X6 coop and then how large the run should be. Do they do better in CT winters with more or less in the coop? My hubby isn't about the "make it larger so we can expand" sort of thinking

But I try to make it as large as possible.

How many nesting boxes should I have available? Are floor ones ok? I know they go broody often so don't want their a fight between broodies for space.

Bother with a roost?

Thanks for any help with these questions. I figure there is no better place to get advise then in this one.

 

[racuda]

There are a few that do this "stand off" dance every so often. I'm wondering if that is an early clue of a roo? I've never had straight run chicks either.
If you mean chest bumping or sparring, it means nothing in 3 week old chicks.

How long until they are full feathered? I can see an obvious difference between their feathering and the EE's. Will they need a heat lamp longer?
I'd say 5 or 6 weeks and they should not need heat longer than any other breed.

What is the recommended sq footage for them? Coop and run? I know they are on the larger side of the bantams so I'm trying to figure out how many I can get in a 4X6 coop and then how large the run should be. Do they do better in CT winters with more or less in the coop? My hubby isn't about the "make it larger so we can expand" sort of thinking

But I try to make it as large as possible.

Silkies tolerate confinement better than most breeds. 9 or 10 should be fine in your coop. a 6 x 8 foot run should do. I have 9 in my 4 x 6 coop and they are not crowded at all.

How many nesting boxes should I have available? Are floor ones ok? I know they go broody often so don't want their a fight between broodies for space.

I have 2 nest boxes on the floor of my 4 x 6 coop.

Bother with a roost?
No need to. I have a roosting ladder but only 2 of them use it. (both roosters).

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

Quote:
thanks....I am excited for her too. We tried to talk her into showing the bantam wyandottes becasue we already know about them, but you know how strong headed girls can be....

scrubbing birds is not fun at all! I really don't like when they are in the basement all night to dry becasue it is too cold out and they start crowing at 3:30 in the morning....they are lucky they make it to the show after that. The big wyandottes are pretty loud.

 

[muddyhorse]

My dd would love to get some wynadottes I just can't seem to find any good ones around here.

this boy is almost 6 months this line tends to get their crest late but the cushion is there

 

[backdoorchicken]

our silkies are the sweetest darn things on the planet. just so friendly and willing to be handled. i can see how people could put a diaper on them and let the live in the house.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

they are great for kids.... My daughter carries them around all the time. She was supposed to show them more this spring but thought they would like some strawberries for a snack and ....well, you know how it goes with white chickens.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

Quote:
you can get birds shipped and the bantams are a lot cheaper to ship than the standards.... what kind of bantam wyandottes are you looking for?

 

[emvickrey]

Mrs. Turbo :

they are great for kids.... My daughter carries them around all the time. She was supposed to show them more this spring but thought they would like some strawberries for a snack and ....well, you know how it goes with white chickens.

I have a house chicken named George. I'm thinking I should start calling it Georgette though. She/he started doing the "Squat" when I touch her?his back. It has taken almost twice as long for him to develope like his hatch mates and they don't want him around them, he gets chicken abused so he became the house chicken and he is so sweet and loves to be held and will tuck his het under my arm and actually will spread out a wing and give me what I call a hug. But his hatch mates have started to lay and now he has started the squat. If he lays an egg I will change his name.

I don't use a diaper. I"m not cleaning a chicken's bum. I clean up anough poop as it is. He has a cage in the living room which he prefers to be in most of the time. He lets me know when he wants out and will peck on his water jar if he needs or wants his water freshened up and peck on his food dish if he wants it filled. He goes to his door and pecks on it if he wants out. I put him outside in a pen of his own so the other chickens can't hurt him. He will just cower down and let them peck away at him so I keep them away.​

 

[emvickrey]

Oh, and by the way, George is a Sizzle.