Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

So I know silkies mature slower, but I have a few who are almost five weeks old and I was wondering how long before I can put them outside? I've been waiting patiently, and they're really no bother inside. I just would like for them to have more room. I've been putting them outside all day, but I don't know how they'd do at night. With my other chicks I just put them outside at three weeks, but I didn't want to do that with my silkies since they still look like tiny chicks I didn't know if they would get too cold, especially with it getting colder outside by the day.

Simple rule of thumb. Chicks need 95 degrees first week, 90 the second, 85, the third, and so on, down 5 degrees per week. When that number reaches the ambient temperature, outside without added heat is fine.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I never turn off my turner, but different types of incubators "turn" differently, and that could well make a difference. Mine rocks the eggs back and forth, making a change about every 15 minuts, so they are never rolled upside down. The large end is always upwards to some extent. On the other hand, I know that Roll-X and Turn-X incubators constantly roll the eggs on their sides, switching from clockwise to counter-clockwise every so often. I would think keeping them rolling during hatching would be an issue.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How old can you tell a cockerel is. His spirs less than an inch. Maybe half an inch. The guy said 10 months but he's smaller than my year old hen.

At that length of spur, I would easily have guessed at least a year, so the 10 months is likely accurate. Some lines are larger than others. Can you post photos? And how much does your hen weigh?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
I'm thinking from the wording that she thought he was younger than 10 months. I agree with you that 1/2 inch spurs on a silkie indicate that he is at least close to a year, if not over. On the other hand, on some breeds the spurs grow more rapidly, but they still start growing about the same age in my experience.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
10 weeks of decreasing by 5 degrees per week meets your ambient low.

 

[sheeshshe]

I never turn off my turner, but different types of incubators "turn" differently, and that could well make a difference. Mine rocks the eggs back and forth, making a change about every 15 minuts, so they are never rolled upside down. The large end is always upwards to some extent. On the other hand, I know that Roll-X and Turn-X incubators constantly roll the eggs on their sides, switching from clockwise to counter-clockwise every so often. I would think keeping them rolling during hatching would be an issue.

that is exactly what was happening.

 

[sheeshshe]

Here is our chick isn't he/she cute? I love silkie chicks, they're just the cutest, and they stay cute for such a super long time... hehehehhe. I'm assuming it is a blue. blue mom and blue dad. Although, I've never seen a black chick before, so I have no idea what those look like, but it looks like the other blue chick I have hatched before

 

[BuckNBark Farm]

Brainy

Trouble

Momo

Runt

Red

Batgirl

Buddy

Just wanted to share some pics!! Oh and my daughter did most of the naming lol !!

Pretty! I love the name "Bat Girl" And "brainy" certainly fits Silkie roos!.

 

[388chick]

Th

[COLOR=333333]Woohoo! My very first chick hatched today![/COLOR] e [COLOR=333333] My first Silkie laid her 1st egg Aug 9th and is now sitting on her 1st clutch of eggs - 12 in all. By my calculations, today was Day 21 and sure enough, the first one hatched this afternoon.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR][COLOR=3B5998]Bobbi Porto[/COLOR][COLOR=333333] - Nitro is a granddad (again, I'm sure). Elvis is black like his dad (my avatar) and Stormey is blue, also one of Bobbi's beauties. I've named this first chick Uno.[/COLOR] [COLOR=333333] [/COLOR] [COLOR=333333]What color do you think she is? The first two pictures are the truest to her real color.[/COLOR]

that right there is stinking CUTE!!!

 

[388chick]

do you guys think this chick could drown in the water thing I have in there?  it isn't very deep, but I just want to make sure it won't drown!

I have heard of people putting marbles in the water to protect against that