Silkie thread!

[kabhyper1]

I absolutely adore responsible breeders! Thank you for NOT breeding the nasty tempered!

Thank you. I'm new, but I'm trying. Here are my seven lovely boys. I love my boys more than my girls I think. Don't tell the girls that.

The silkie boys and their girls, and the 2 month olds.
The big flock protectors..................

 

[kabhyper1]

Bantam cochins can have a bit of a Napoleon complex, but the big ones are super mellow and sweet, they tend to take a more submissive role in the flock I think.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thanks. Not planning on having any roos at this time. My co-worker has some silver-laced cochins. It sounds like personality wise they would be good matches, but again, aren't the best egg layers.

I wonder how adding some easter eggers into the mix would be. I was told heritage breeds were best, and they aren't one, but the seem to be okay and eggs and good on temperment.

I have an APA Ameraucana and my egg seller friend has one Ameraucana and 3 Easter Eggers. We both agree these birds are the best birds to have.

Here are our reasons for loving Amers and EEs: Great XL egg layers of various colored eggs and prolific, not broody, love to talk with you (sweet), let you handle or pet them, cute fluffy cheeks, gentle and kind to flockmates (OurFlyBabies.com says they keep Ameraucanas because they will kindly accept orphaned chicks or injured birds into their flock where other breeds are not so willing).

Some negatives but not really problematic: Amers and EEs are slow to mature being kooky and skittish in their pullet stage, they are a bit high-strung startling from noises or sudden movements, flighty (but to their credit will stay within the yard), will chase birds and stray cats out of the yard (could be a plus as long as it's not YOUR cat - ha!).

Amers and EEs are too sweet and kind to put into a flock of heavier LF that could intimidate their gentle natures. The Amers/EEs learn to adapt to any flock but I think I prefer keeping them in a gentle tempered flock where they don't have to be chased or stressed by larger bullies. Stress will drop egg production so these prolific layers really should be with other gentle breeds or bantams.

 

[aatx]

I have an APA Ameraucana and my egg seller friend has one Ameraucana and 3 Easter Eggers. We both agree these birds are the best birds to have.

Here are our reasons for loving Amers and EEs: Great XL egg layers of various colored eggs and prolific, not broody, love to talk with you (sweet), let you handle or pet them, cute fluffy cheeks, gentle and kind to flockmates (OurFlyBabies.com says they keep Ameraucanas because they will kindly accept orphaned chicks or injured birds into their flock where other breeds are not so willing).

Some negatives but not really problematic: Amers and EEs are slow to mature being kooky and skittish in their pullet stage, they are a bit high-strung startling from noises or sudden movements, flighty (but to their credit will stay within the yard), will chase birds and stray cats out of the yard (could be a plus as long as it's not YOUR cat - ha!).

Amers and EEs are too sweet and kind to put into a flock of heavier LF that could intimidate their gentle natures. The Amers/EEs learn to adapt to any flock but I think I prefer keeping them in a gentle tempered flock where they don't have to be chased or stressed by larger bullies. Stress will drop egg production so these prolific layers really should be with other gentle breeds or bantams.

Glad to hear that about the EEs. Although I personally have no recollection of it, my dad speaks about taking my sister and I to a friend's house who had EEs and they would let us gather the eggs.

The run won't be entirely predator proof, but it has good field wire and an electric fence around it now. We'll have to add some chicken wire of course. We also have goats, llamas, donkeys, dogs, and cats. Lots of crow in the area, so maybe that will help with hawks. We have a few outside cats that are fed. Some of them actually tend to stay with the goats, so I am hoping they will remain good for mice, but no interest in a chicken. Two dogs that are allowed to roam the property and have been pretty good at figuring out which animals are okay and which animals to chase off like coyotes, coon, etc.

 

[Sylvester017]

Thank you. I'm new, but I'm trying. Here are my seven lovely boys. I love my boys more than my girls I think. Don't tell the girls that.

The silkie boys and their girls, and the 2 month olds.
The big flock protectors..................

Yes, the boys always seem to be the sweetest. Had to re-home my Partridge Silkie boy but he was the best! I'll have to post my camera-hog boy when I find his pix.

 

[Sylvester017]

Glad to hear that about the EEs. Although I personally have no recollection of it, my dad speaks about taking my sister and I to a friend's house who had EEs and they would let us gather the eggs.

The run won't be entirely predator proof, but it has good field wire and an electric fence around it now. We'll have to add some chicken wire of course. We also have goats, llamas, donkeys, dogs, and cats. Lots of crow in the area, so maybe that will help with hawks. We have a few outside cats that are fed. Some of them actually tend to stay with the goats, so I am hoping they will remain good for mice, but no interest in a chicken. Two dogs that are allowed to roam the property and have been pretty good at figuring out which animals are okay and which animals to chase off like coyotes, coon, etc.

Other than their skittish young personalities I haven't read any negatives about EEs - everyone seems to love them and they're always sold out quickly in the feed stores.

If any cats get aggressive which well-fed pet cats usually don't but if they do your roos will put them in their place. Our cats didn't bother with poultry or mice very much when there were bigger gophers in the field to stalk. But that was okay. As for dogs, they are pack animals, so once they figure out what farm animals are their "pack" they'll chase off other predators and sometimes even other dogs that are not part of the "pack." Be prepared to have anti-skunk dog shampoo on hand for when the dogs grapple with them. Cats and a couple tandem flock/guard dogs are absolute musts for a farm. Sounds like you are going to have a nice setup - Smiles

 

[aatx]

Other than their skittish young personalities I haven't read any negatives about EEs - everyone seems to love them and they're always sold out quickly in the feed stores.

If any cats get aggressive which well-fed pet cats usually don't but if they do your roos will put them in their place. Our cats didn't bother with poultry or mice very much when there were bigger gophers in the field to stalk. But that was okay. As for dogs, they are pack animals, so once they figure out what farm animals are their "pack" they'll chase off other predators and sometimes even other dogs that are not part of the "pack." Be prepared to have anti-skunk dog shampoo on hand for when the dogs grapple with them. Cats and a couple tandem flock/guard dogs are absolute musts for a farm. Sounds like you are going to have a nice setup - Smiles

Good grief, I am sick of skunks. We battled them this winter getting under the house as we were remodeling it. We trapped and terminated 3 of them before deciding we could seal up the hole better (we used stuff on the outside to look for tracks and game cameras - didn't want to seal one in.) I was always so careful dealing with the actual skunks, but then I would get careless, take of the gloves, and carry them around in my bare hands, or I would rub up against the trap getting it back set.

It's a work in progress on the dogs. The good one died a few years ago. A few months back we added in a blue lacy. He's 9 months old now and good when he focuses. Boy will he chase a coyote! We have a larger dog, but we keep him penned up in our fenced in yard as he can be a bit aggressive to other dogs. He will at least be a bit of an alert. I grew up on this property and we've always had animals, but never chickens due to my mother's fear. It's only now, after moving back 12 years later as an adult, that we are finally exploring the idea.

 

[Sylvester017]

We want to start a small flock of chickens, and, at this time, have no interest in starting from young chicks. I'm not sure how many chickens we can have. We're building the enclosed coop part with the nesting boxes and roosting perches from a 4'x8' shed that will be connected to a 600 sq ft run they will share with some goats. I'm thinking 6-8 chickens for that size coop? (As an FYI, we are in north central Texas.)

My parents live on the same land as my husband and I, so it will be a shared venture. My mother is deathly afraid of all birds (she got attacked by chickens almost daily well into her teens) but she loves fresh eggs. On the other hand, I sometimes have a texture problem with eggs, so I could care less about that part, but am a huge animal lover and want to handle the chickens. So, we need to find a compromise. Eggs for her so she tolerates the chickens here and temperament for me so that I have good reason to take special care of them.

I would really love to have some silkies. I know they can be lower on the egg laying part and prone to brooding, but their looks and temperament really attract me.

I've seen mixed reports on them in mixed flocks, but thought I might get a lot more feedback in this active thread. Do you think it would be possible for me to include some silkies in a mixed flock? At least 2 or 3 of them? Maybe stick with 2 or 3 breeds and have 2-3 of each? I think I would need to add in a higher egg layer to the mix to balance things out.

(Oh, and everyone's photos are just precious!)

Hi Again - well, my favorite mixed flock is Silkies and Ameraucanas. Silkies for the "awww" factor and Ameraucanas (or EEs) for their gentleness, productivity, and colorful XL eggs. But just so you know, don't let the diminutive size or cuteness of Silkies deceive you. They are very hardy for all their cuteness, can be combative with each other in their hormonal broody moods, don't peck viciously if disturbed in the nestbox, and when not broody they lay 5-6 eggs/week of around 1.25 to 1.5 oz eggs. The yolks are the same size as a Buff Leghorn yolk - there's just less white albumen (spelling?) inside the Silkie egg.

Now two drawbacks for me with Silkies is that they ARE very broody several times sometimes in one year which drops their wonderful egg production but great if you have other chicken eggs that need to be hatched by a broody hen. The other drawback is the feathers on the feet. Because of their fluffiness all over we use Organic Poultry Protector against lice/mites and wash and massage their legs/toes with vitamin E oil to protect from scaly mites - some people treat with vaseline or olive oil but these are greasy - at roost time the vitamin E oil absorbs into their feet overnight without soiling their feathers. Vaseline or olive oil seems to grease up the feathers and then dust-bath dirt gets stuck to the feathers. E oil doesn't seem to do this. So far they've been infestation-free but it does take commitment to checkup on their health. We have to keep their toenails trimmed but you'd have to do that with any chicken breed if they needed it.

Drawbacks with Amers/EEs is that they are a kooky (but sweet) bird, skittish (but that's good against predators), spook at noises and movements (again good against predators), and their fluffy butts (like Silkies) might need to be washed with warm water and baby shampoo and blow-dried when they lay a lot of eggs. Don't worry about using the hairdryer as most chickens don't seem to mind it as much as you might expect. My Silkies love to stand in front of heaters or fans to feel the air go through their fur. Silkies and fluffy butt breeds seem to need occasional butt washes during the times they lay a lot of eggs.

 

[aatx]

Hi Again - well, my favorite mixed flock is Silkies and Ameraucanas. Silkies for the "awww" factor and Ameraucanas (or EEs) for their gentleness, productivity, and colorful XL eggs. But just so you know, don't let the diminutive size or cuteness of Silkies deceive you. They are very hardy for all their cuteness, can be combative with each other in their hormonal broody moods, don't peck viciously if disturbed in the nestbox, and when not broody they lay 5-6 eggs/week of around 1.25 to 1.5 oz eggs. The yolks are the same size as a Buff Leghorn yolk - there's just less white albumen (spelling?) inside the Silkie egg.

Now two drawbacks for me with Silkies is that they ARE very broody several times sometimes in one year which drops their wonderful egg production but great if you have other chicken eggs that need to be hatched by a broody hen. The other drawback is the feathers on the feet. Because of their fluffiness all over we use Organic Poultry Protector against lice/mites and wash and massage their legs/toes with vitamin E oil to protect from scaly mites - some people treat with vaseline or olive oil but these are greasy - at roost time the vitamin E oil absorbs into their feet overnight without soiling their feathers. Vaseline or olive oil seems to grease up the feathers and then dust-bath dirt gets stuck to the feathers. E oil doesn't seem to do this. So far they've been infestation-free but it does take commitment to checkup on their health. We have to keep their toenails trimmed but you'd have to do that with any chicken breed if they needed it.

Drawbacks with Amers/EEs is that they are a kooky (but sweet) bird, skittish (but that's good against predators), spook at noises and movements (again good against predators), and their fluffy butts (like Silkies) might need to be washed with warm water and baby shampoo and blow-dried when they lay a lot of eggs. Don't worry about using the hairdryer as most chickens don't seem to mind it as much as you might expect. My Silkies love to stand in front of heaters or fans to feel the air go through their fur. Silkies and fluffy butt breeds seem to need occasional butt washes during the times they lay a lot of eggs.

You know, as I am reading more and more, the silkies and EEs are really standing out. Perhaps just those two would be good to start out with.

I didn't know about trimming their nails! I have 6 inside cats and an inside dog that I trim all the time, so hopefully that will be pretty easy. Interesting about the vitamin E. How often do you use this and the wash?

Ah, the fluffy butts. I have a fluffy butted cat who occasionally needs some assistance. Many times I have even done some man-scaping in the area but it's hard to get him to hold still, grab the hair right to ensure I don't cut the skin, and use the scissors all by myself. And I never seem to think about doing it when my husband is handy. If I am going to have an animal, I need it to need care so that I stay interested and it also needs to be able to be handled to some degree. As I read more and more, sounds like chickens really do need more attention and hands-on care than I thought. And to think I was planning on just getting a fish tank!

What about clipping a wing? Any thoughts. I don't think silkies can fly, but the EEs can.

 

[Sylvester017]

Good grief, I am sick of skunks. We battled them this winter getting under the house as we were remodeling it. We trapped and terminated 3 of them before deciding we could seal up the hole better (we used stuff on the outside to look for tracks and game cameras - didn't want to seal one in.) I was always so careful dealing with the actual skunks, but then I would get careless, take of the gloves, and carry them around in my bare hands, or I would rub up against the trap getting it back set.

It's a work in progress on the dogs. The good one died a few years ago. A few months back we added in a blue lacy. He's 9 months old now and good when he focuses. Boy will he chase a coyote! We have a larger dog, but we keep him penned up in our fenced in yard as he can be a bit aggressive to other dogs. He will at least be a bit of an alert. I grew up on this property and we've always had animals, but never chickens due to my mother's fear. It's only now, after moving back 12 years later as an adult, that we are finally exploring the idea.

We had a friend terrified of birds as small as budgies. Our little guy just wanted to fly to a shoulder to sit but our friend panicked. We had to work with our friend allowing him to have the budgie sit on his finger. When people are afraid of birds it's because they think the bird is after the eyes. They're not. We have Hummingbirds that fly right up to our nose to scold us for not refilling their feeder because they know we're the caretakers of the feeding pole. We can't take two steps out the door before 2 or 3 Hummies are gathering at the feeder in our hands before we even hang it up. None have ever gone for our eyes. I tell friends if they are afraid of eye attacks to wear sunglasses and that makes them feel secure around the birds. But if you'll notice in bird fights they usually don't go for the eyes of opponents - they go for combs, wattles, top of the head feathers, back of the neck. The only way the eyes get affected is from feet/random mid-air spur sparring.

Now, not all Silkies are cuddly lap kittens. Just like all animals some are outgoing curious while others are stand-offish. One good thing is that Silkies are relatively easy to pickup while you're feeding them treats. Just don't pick them up EVERY time they're fed treats or they get suspicious. Their crests and beards can obstruct their vision so they are very aware to dart out of the way of sudden or overhead movements even if you move slowly around them. They are very aware to be careful around anybody bigger than them. Watch the youtube videos about the proper way to pickup a chicken. You don't want to let childen grab or hold them from the sides where the egg production goes on. Any child under school age should be closely supervised.

Silkies in a mixed flock should not be alone and have other Silkies to hang around. I wish I could have more birds in my zone as 2 Silkies together is kind of sparse but better than being only one Silkie in a flock.