Silkie thread!

[Iluvmysilkies]

wow really ? are bearded typically fluffier ?
sorry have been reading this thread and learning so much but im only on page 150 of the million pages lol

Im quite addicted to this entire chicken thing now , didnt think it could get worse until i found silkies !!!!!

Oh yes, and the addiction is only going to get stronger and stronger! lol Yes bearded are fluffier around the face and look so pretty. They are my favorite I try to look for the bearded & vaulted babies the most. Looks like you have one vaulted. Those typically will grow a bigger crest or, it will just look that way Vaulted heads are just as common as non-vaulted. Lots of people prefer one or the other. The vaulted are just a little more delicate because if the heads were to get pecked at, or bumped it could kill them. I just think they make beautiful birds as adults with them, so I tend to look for them Silkies are awesome, they will grow on you alot. I just love how docile they are, and great with kids

 

[daniellecm]

so dumb question here for everyone

My two silkies are now a week old. Picked them up from the breeder on Tue (so 3 day's ago)
the white one seems a bit slower than its friend. I havent actually seen her drink, have seen her eat and poop though.
I have also dipped her beak in water and she will swallow. If she was not drinking i would assume she would be deteriorating be now
or possibly have died ? Can i stop worrying at all ?

 

[lightchick]

She's probably drinking when your not there.

 

[daniellecm]

thanks thats what im assuming !
dont think she would have made 4 day's or so with out drinking.
She is little slower then the other. And i do have to clean her little poopy bum multiple times a day.
but she's so sweet and i want her to thrive.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Ok, if you are good with names, give me some cute girl chicken names.  I have the nicest looking NN out there..I know it's a girl.  Has a great bow tie..and so sweet.  She is a cream colored with black.  I know not many people like them, in fact I didn't used to until they came along with the beards and bow ties.  Love her!  She needs a name.  Maybe I can post a photo later...looks like rain here though today.    We will take it..Utah desert, take what we can.

Lol, from your description it sounds like a penguin.

 

[carolsmith7878]

Hi LadyKotaDoria,

I have one like that from my hatch as well. Of course, it is the one my son has fallen in love with and called "Buzz Chickyear". It was smaller, not doing well, couldn't walk right (no balance), couldn't open its eyes, and had deformed feet.

I had had "the talk" with my son about it not living through the night the night before last, but it is slowly getting stronger. I put a buddy in with it to keep it company (another silkie with a slipped tendon that is also doing better), and kept them separated from the rest. I added "Vi-tal" powder to the water (gotten at my local feed store), and dipped its beak in the water to drink every few hours the day after it was hatched, and added Band-Aid shoes to its feet to straighten them.

On day 3, I cleaned its eyes with a wet q-tip, and they stayed open for a while. I clean them every half day and they are starting to stay open on their own. I took off the shoes because it was having trouble standing with them on. The feet are mostly straight, but I'm more concerned with him getting around to eat and drink at this point. I made a mash of vitamin water and chick starter crumbles, by mixing them together and crushing them in a bowl with a spoon until they were a water paste. I then dipped his beak in it every few hours (careful not to get it in his nose), so that he was getting some nutrients.

It is day four. He is still alive. He is now walking on his own (though he falls a lot), and is eating and drinking on his own. I did put some crushed mealworms down to entice him to eat, and this seems to have worked. His eyes mostly stay open, and though he gets pasty butt, he appears to be doing better.

I hope this helps. Sometimes, despite everything you do, their little bodies just don't have the energy to make it past the first few days for whatever reason (genetics, difficult hatch, injury...). You can only do so much to help them. Good luck!

Buzz Chickyear

UPDATE:



Buzz Chickyear is much improved. He went downhill for a week or so after the initial posting, and had a terrible problem with his eyes crusting shut every day. He had trouble eating, and standing. He is still smaller than the rest (pictured front left above), but is now doing well enough to be in with the other chicks. His eyes stay open by themselves, and he is standing and getting around just fine now. After the first week of using probiotics and Vi-tal, he started back downhill again, so sulmet was added to his water with the vitamins. He was on that for a week and a half, and just finished taking the recommended dosage. His eyes and booty were cleaned multiple times throughout the day as they were constantly crusting shut. He's been through the ringer, and lost most of the fuzz around his eyes and butt from cleanings. However, he is starting to grow it back, and has begun to put on more weight, as well as beginning to feather out.

We are all very happy the little one made it through. Still not sure if it is a boy or girl, but my son is very happy to have his little chick healthy and happy.

 

[Cynthia12]

The usps quote was 36.80 for shipping. I have found, being in Indiana, anywhere past about 3 states over gets very salty. I'm happy to send them to you, but I understand if the shipping is too much. I normally charge more for my eggs, but I'm getting quite a few, and I dont hatch unless one of my girls goes broody.

That's interesting..just had some NN's from GA. sent for free..a doz. for 29 dollars, and then some others for free from LA., a doz. mixed eggs for 16.50. The most I have paid for shipping this year is 16.50, and that was from Texas this year..closer to me! I wonder what's up with that.

It's ok, I will keep looking..there are some I have been eyeing, but they are from Florida. I guess if the ones I get from GA. hatch as well as they do, maybe the FL. ones will. You never know.
On man, they will be eaten.

 

[Cynthia12]

She's probably drinking when your not there.

I agree.

 

[Fancychooklady]

thanks thats what im assuming !
dont think she would have made 4 day's or so with out drinking.
She is little slower then the other. And i do have to clean her little poopy bum multiple times a day.
but she's so sweet and i want her to thrive.

Sometimes they need a little help, I dip my finger in the water and tap the side . Let the water drip into the beak. Once they know the ' finger ' I dip it into water then crumble and usually get the idea.

 

[Cynthia12]

Cynthia12: Thank you! You have some gorgeous babies as well!

What color will the one posted above end up (in your pictures) - just blue? I purchased a blue that looks very similar to that (though her primary feathers are really thick), but she has the white on her chest and white on her crown like that one. Edit: OH, and a white butt!

Ideal does have bearded Silkies, but they will not specify your preference on your order, and only match orders by color. It is random what they hatch, and what you get =(. Trust me, I begged! I had an order placed through them for 6 Silkies for the beginning of June, but decided to try and get the chicks locally to ensure they were all bearded and had the looks I was wanting! Only the Cochins are from Ideal; all of my silkies are from local breeders.

Thank you... With this baby having a yellow tint around it, it could be splash, or, it could be a blue, having the the light go away, and the blue fill in. Have to wait and see. You can check those wing feathers in about 4 or 5 days to see what colors are coming in..or if no colors are coming in. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but watch those little wing feathers.