Silkie thread!

[RockerHen]

hey what age do silkies go thru that stage were there like kinda fluffy and akward? i have a 3 week old silkie chick and it looks like a normal chick

It depends on where you got it. Feed store/hatchery silkies never really get as 'fluffy' as chicks from show breeders, although they still can have the sweet personalities and broodiness of the silkie breed. My chicks personally start getting fluffy and 'awkward' at around 4 weeks.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

This is by far the silliest chick I have ever met! She's been burrowing in my hair, trying to type on my keyboard with me, running around me like a maniac, and eating my shirt... all with her little purple booties on! =D





AAAAAANNNNDDDD... now we're pooped

 

[Jharper]

My dad found me a couple on his route that have buff silkies that look just like this and he's getting me hatching eggs from them! So excited they should be old enough for show by the time it comes around!

 

[chicken farmer]

I had 12 eggs in the incubator and there was 6 americauna mix and 6 silkie and yesterday only 1 americauna mix hatched and 1 silkie chick hacthed and Im bringing them home tomorrow and I was wandering if I could try to let my white silkie hen outta the pen and have the chicks in a wire dog crate and see if the white silkie hen will run over to them and cluck to them and see if she wants them as her own.She hasnt (really) went broody this year but I got her and 2 other silkie roosters in february so i havent seen id she has gone broody yet....ANYWAY im wandering if intoducing the chicks to her is a good idea????I have a 20 foot by 20 foot pen thats 6 foot tall and a big walk in coop and I have 1 easter egg rooster,1silkie rooster,1 silkie cockrel,2 gold comet hens,2 black sexlink hens and the 1 white silkie hen,and the silkie hen is dominet hen so i think the chicks will be fine,PLEASE help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A million thanks in advance

 

[heby]

hey what age do silkies go thru that stage were there like kinda fluffy and akward? i have a 3 week old silkie chick and it looks like a normal chick

Mine was 5 wks old last Friday. It just started looking a little awkward. lol. My hubby calls it "ugly"

I think it's adorable. The tail is getting so long.

 

[RockerHen]

I had 12 eggs in the incubator and there was 6 americauna mix and 6 silkie and yesterday only 1 americauna mix hatched and 1 silkie chick hacthed and Im bringing them home tomorrow and I was wandering if I could try to let my white silkie hen outta the pen and have the chicks in a wire dog crate and see if the white silkie hen will run over to them and cluck to them and see if she wants them as her own.She hasnt (really) went broody this year but I got her and 2 other silkie roosters in february so i havent seen id she has gone broody yet....ANYWAY im wandering if intoducing the chicks to her is a good idea????I have a 20 foot by 20 foot pen thats 6 foot tall and a big walk in coop and I have 1 easter egg rooster,1silkie rooster,1 silkie cockrel,2 gold comet hens,2 black sexlink hens and the 1 white silkie hen,and the silkie hen is dominet hen so i think the chicks will be fine,PLEASE help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A million thanks in advance

I personally would not. A hen who is not broody is not very accepting of chicks, often pecking them, sometimes even to death. Even silkies do this. Dominant hens seem to be the worst about it, as they feel they have to put the chicks in their place. You could try with supervision, but take the chicks out IMMEDIATELY if she shows aggression. It is rare to have hens accept chicks when not broody.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

I had 12 eggs in the incubator and there was 6 americauna mix and 6 silkie and yesterday only 1 americauna mix hatched and 1 silkie chick hacthed and Im bringing them home tomorrow and I was wandering if I could try to let my white silkie hen outta the pen and have the chicks in a wire dog crate and see if the white silkie hen will run over to them and cluck to them and see if she wants them as her own.She hasnt (really) went broody this year but I got her and 2 other silkie roosters in february so i havent seen id she has gone broody yet....ANYWAY im wandering if intoducing the chicks to her is a good idea????I have a 20 foot by 20 foot pen thats 6 foot tall and a big walk in coop and I have 1 easter egg rooster,1silkie rooster,1 silkie cockrel,2 gold comet hens,2 black sexlink hens and the 1 white silkie hen,and the silkie hen is dominet hen so i think the chicks will be fine,PLEASE help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A million thanks in advance

I wouldn't. If she isn't broody she will reject them and they will be killed. I just tried intro-ing my baby with my hen who I thought was broody, but she just stared at it, and tried to steal it's pieces of grass lol

 

[chicken farmer]

I personally would not. A hen who is not broody is not very accepting of chicks, often pecking them, sometimes even to death. Even silkies do this. Dominant hens seem to be the worst about it, as they feel they have to put the chicks in their place. You could try with supervision, but take the chicks out IMMEDIATELY if she shows aggression. It is rare to have hens accept chicks when not broody.

Ok thanks for the info,I might try in the dog crate after the chicks have settled in there new brooder for about a week then do it but It will be very supervised

 

[chicken farmer]

I wouldn't. If she isn't broody she will reject them and they will be killed. I just tried intro-ing my baby with my hen who I thought was broody, but she just stared at it, and tried to steal it's pieces of grass lol

Ok,I will leave the chicks in the brooder till older but i might let them out in the dog crate for short periods with the hen and hopefully it will make her go broody seeing the chicks

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Ok,I will leave the chicks in the brooder till older but i might let them out in the dog crate for short periods with the hen and hopefully it will make her go broody seeing the chicks

If anything, being outsid eto forage will be good for them =) But I do believe a hen has to be broody for the term of the eggs to accept chicks. A broody hen who has been brooding for only a short period of time will also reject the chicks.