Silkie thread!

[NOLA Chicks]

I let me girls out to free range a little in the beautiful weather yesterday. My Maltese mix was "grazing" with them LOL. He blends right in with his coloration and fuzziness.

 

[TheRookie]

I have a 4 month old Silkie who has a very red comb and wattles but acts feminine.

So which is it?

 

[TheRookie]

I have a 4 month old Silkie who has a very red comb and wattles but acts feminine.

So which is it?

 

[TheRookie]

Oops looks like it posted twice. Anyway. Let me know if you need more pics. Excuse her muddy feathers, the weather here has been horrendous.

 

[Crafty chick]

NOLA what a good lookin family!

 

[peepblessed]

Hey, look at my little man Ace! He's starting to look really good...at least I think so.

8 months old

He is so nice! I'm really looking forward to seeing what he produces!

Can't wait get my new silkies next week got group whites coming. still looking for splash

I hope they are great!!

When did your silkie hens start to lay.

Early as 20 weeks and as late as 11 months.

I am so excited that I found this thread.

I have a lot of reading to do to catch up but wanted to say hello to everyone.

Out of all my chickens my little Silkies are my favorite. For such a small little bird they are so feisty and funny.

One of my Silkies cracked me up when I was cleaning the coop. I noticed that she was pushing (pecking, pushing and just throwing a fit) the larger birds out of the nest boxes. Confused about what was going on I propped the door open so I could spy on her to see what she is doing. I had to giggle when I realized what she was doing. She was pushing all the larger hens into her claimed nest box to lay their eggs, then she kicks them out, puffs up as big as she can get and lays on the eggs. It was a sight to see this little tiny runt of my flock puffed out as much as she could so she could sit on around 12 eggs (most were large eggs) just looking so pleased with herself.

I felt bad as I broke her heart by taking them all away from her.

I am still debating if I want to try and let her hatch some eggs.


Also, is it normal for Silkies to be obsessed with water? Whenever it rains, sprinklers are on, or the snow melts they are out there just playing in the puddles like they do when they dust bath, such a funny site.

They are also the ones that when it snows they decide that being on the path is no fun and disappear into the snow drifts so I have to go and fish them out.. Little twerps.

Such a great story!!!! Mine love to play in water especially dripping water.

I'm having a little issue with my broody girl, Ellie Mae. I posted last Friday about giving her some chicks from TSC. She's really been a great mom and the problem is no fault of her own. I'd been checking her several times a day to be sure everyone was alright and occasionally I would find a chick stuck in her feathers. On Monday I found a dead chick in her brooder cage with a feather wrapped around its neck. I disposed of the chick and gave her a good once over with my dogs slicker brush to remove any tangles. I checked on them all day Tuesday and there weren't any problems. So yesterday I topped of the feeder and refreshed the water and let them be. This morning I found 2 dead chicks, both with feathers wrapped around their necks

Is this a common problem with Silkies? I took the slicker to her again, but here's my concern...
Tomorrow I'm leaving for the weekend. My husband will be in charge of the chickens until I get back on Sunday. For him, that's changing water and opening and closing the pop door. I don't expect him to give Ellie a brush everyday while I'm gone. I don't think taking the chicks away is an option either since they're very much bonded to her

She's down to 4 chicks now and I'm worried I'll come home and find them all strangled. I suppose there isn't much guidance to be offered, I just needed to vent. She's been doing such a good job, it really isn't her fault

Nikki

I'm so sorry. This is fairly common. Some people trim off all the underfluff. Your girl is probably extra fluffy.

Me and my brother are getting 8 Silkies in April!! 2 Partridge, 2 Buff, 2 Black & 2 Blue!!!
I can't wait! The only problem is, that they are not sexed!! I already have 10 boys out of 30 girls. I'll probably have to get rid of all males. But, it would be so hard to get rid of them be because they will be about 4 or 5 months.

I also use Craigslist and the feed store.

Bad news...My order never went through so I thought I could wait until the 20th but they are al sold out of silkies until the 3 of April

. Does anyone know of a hatchery that can sell a select number of chicks?

You might try a breeder. You will get better chicks too.

I let me girls out to free range a little in the beautiful weather yesterday. My Maltese mix was "grazing" with them LOL. He blends right in with his coloration and fuzziness.

That's one big silkie!

I have a 4 month old Silkie who has a very red comb and wattles but acts feminine.
So which is it?

I have never seen this on a girl that young. Some colors are prone to more red, like buff and Columbian.

 

[Feathersprings]

Bad news...My order never went through so I thought I could wait until the 20th but they are al sold out of silkies until the 3 of April

. Does anyone know of a hatchery that can sell a select number of chicks?

Find a breeder!!! There are a lot of us winter hatchers that will have chicks ready to go now

look on Craigs list or even tell us here where you are located so someone can put you in touch with someone near you.

 

[Crafty chick]

Do silkies do well with the nipple waterers? I had ordered some for the whole flock, but wondering about my little silkie

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Something got into the hen fortress and killed my little girl Shasta All of the others were able to get away in a small space, without flying. Could it have been mice?? That's all that could get in. Nothing left but feathers, no blood. She was broody, and wouldn't have moved. It was able to just tear her up I'm heartbroken. Crying and shaking as I type. I don't know what to do with my others tonight??

 

[Crafty chick]

Oh, what a pretty girl too. Makes me tear up just seeing her pic