Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

What incubator do most of you recommend for hatching silkie eggs? I would like one that would hatch at least 24 at a time since I am planning to purchase some shipped eggs. I am willing to spend some $ for a nice one, but can't afford one of the big cabinet incubators, so the next best thing to a cabinet incubator please. Thank you! This is such a wonderful thread

A fan is more important than automatic turners (although they are nice to have); digital is better than solid state, which is better than analogue. I dislike the Lyon brands: (Roll-X, Turn-X, etc.) They are overpriced and not very user friendly. Their R-Com's are much better, but pretty expensive. Hovabator (GQF) has a better reputation than Little Giant for incubators.

You might try looking for a used cabinet incubator or R-Com; that could give you the better quality and still stay within your budget.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Anybody know of a good link that tells the difference in silkies compared to other chickens and care. I would love a print off to send with my Silkie chicks to their new homes.

There is no difference in care between any breed of chicken versus another--other than based upon their size--smaller chicks need brooders/cages with smaller openings than you can get away with on largefowl chicks. And they may need their feed ground from a crumble to a mash for the first week or so.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

This last little Silkie won't stop peeping, keeps crying for a Moma hen trying to duck under the other chicks. I not only feel bad for it its driving me nuts. I was thinking maybe I should separate one of the mother hens in the coop in a rabbit cage and put some of these house chicks with her. Does anybody think this is a bad idea? The chicks with Moma hens seem so much better off and happier.

Many hens will not accept chicks they did not go broody and hatch (unless added while their brooded eggs are hatching). If you do have a hen which will accept chicks, consider her a gold mine! The constantly peeping chick is probably too cold.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: In my experience, birds who never spend time with birds that look differently tend to discriminate in a very negative way. This is one reason why I like to mix my breeds together, at least by the time they are in grow-out pens. Preferably during brooding

 

[chickieluver26]

I'm getting 6 silkie bantams next week I hope they turn out well I'm so excited

 

[Fancychooklady]

Congrats , it is a very exciting time.

 

[NOLA Chicks]

Quote:

I had a Silkie that hatched out one light yellow chick. I gave her 7 more chicks I hatched out around the same time - when they were all 2 days old. She accepted 6 of them and took exception to one - and only one. It was a black and white sumatra chick. The others (Partridge Wyandotte, Silkie, Welsummer) were all accepted no problem. I think they reject it when they don't know what it is, or when it is not an acceptable color? She pecked it an chased it away from the other chicks - protecting them from the intruder.

Another story. White Game hen of my mothers. She was the loosing broody when two hens hatched out a nest of eggs - the other hen got all the chicks when the feathers stopped flying. The looser was pretty beat up so my mother brought her inside to clean her off and let her recover (games can be MEAN). My mom was also brooding a bunch of random hatchery chicks. The looser broody insisted on getting out of her nice comfy box and into the brooder with the chicks - and singled out about 7 of them that became "hers". The only problem was - these chicks were already over a week old - and they didn't listen to her. She would be frantically following them around when they yelled - instead of them coming to her when she called them. She gave up on them about 3 weeks old - I guess she had had it? She adopted a bunch of different ones, including a turken (naked neck) so I don't think she cared what breed they were. They were white, brown, black and yellow as I recall.

The only thing you can do is try. Do it right after they dry out from hatching or in the first day, that way they will listen to the mommy too. If you can - put them under her at night. If you can't - put them right in front of her - and watch what she does. Sometimes she will peck on it once - to hear the peep - then tuck them underneath them. Peep says "chick" - says put under for safety. If she make the warning noise (RRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.. high to low, also called a growl) and puffs out her neck feathers and gets big an puffy at the chick and - remove it. Do this with each chick - and you will see if she will accept them or not.

I really got lucky. I bought a 12-week old (Ginger) and 3 4-week old Silkies from a breeder. When I got home with them a friend called for help with a rescued duckling (1-2 days old). I put them all in together in a pen separate from my older Sillkie pullets and cockerels. Ginger has been such a good 'mom' to him and he has latched onto her. The funniest thing is, now that Ginger is getting older, I think she may be a roo! Either way, it's done a remarkable job with the younger Silkies and the duckling.

Quote: Best of luck with the new eggs TurtlePower. Suzierd, if we lived in closer proximity I would definitely help take some of those Silkies off your hands.

 

[NOLA Chicks]

I decided to check Stormey's 1st 2 eggs for fertility and eat them. They tasted great! Not sure about fertility. Here's a pic of the 1st egg (I broke the yolk, darn it). The 2nd egg had no markings at all. I tried to roll the yolk around to make sure it wasn't on the other side but didn't see anything.

1st egg. Fertile? I don't see the ring around the dot.

 

[Suzierd]

Many hens will not accept chicks they did not go broody and hatch (unless added while their brooded eggs are hatching).  If you do have a hen which will accept chicks, consider her a gold mine!  The constantly peeping chick is probably too cold.

Thanks for the advise Sonoran I decided not to chance taking them out there after what happened to little Mumsy. Do you have any suggestions on what I can do for her?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/814137/chick-with-broken-leg-need-help
She's getting worse I can't seem to get her leg straight.
The little chick that peeped all day is starting to eat and drink and snuggle with the others not so noisy. It's just tiny little thing way smaller then faith. Cute little button.

 

[Suzierd]

Nola I wish you were closer too! I would love you to have some of these.