Silkie thread!

[Suzierd]

Wow really? Is it really that dangerous? Have you guys experienced your chickens catching stuff from other chickens quite easily?

I've never got anything here and I plan on doing my best to keep it that way. It's up to me to protect them I would feel awful if I brought something home to them that made them sick and possibly die or become carriers for life. I have read horror story after horror story on here and seen a lot of heart ack. The story's I've read are enough to convince me. I won't set foot in a auction or swap. Everybody makes up their own mind about this. If you do get new chickens be sure to quarantine!

 

[nayeli]

I'm getting young silkie chicks in about a week and a half! 3! I already got 4 that were supposed to be purebred but 3/4 turned out to be mixes so she is trading them for me! This time I'm going to pay CLOSE attention, she seems nice enough though =)

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

Quote:
Wow...another thing i hadn't thought of....swap meets or fair grounds...not that i've been to one since owning chickens, but now that i'm into chickens, i was thinking of going sometime in the future... changed my mind... or at least i know to be very careful now.... this is why i like reading this BYC forum ...i learn so much from everyone.... "Thank you my fellow chicken enthusiasts"

 

[nate1the1great1]

My silkie blue and his gf licorice are my night guests becuSe its fall i built a little hut for them and every night i bring them in and every morning i take them out but about a week ago he started to crow and hes 4 months old and his buddies nn and polish havent even attempted and at every morn at 7:15 he crows a delightful crow r-roo-r-roo its so cool he loves to be petted but one question he is a blue and on his neck feathers (cackle feathers) some if them are either silver or gold its not a big deal but he is gorgeous.

 

[702marine]

Our Sizzle boy Lucky. He is about 10 weeks old now.

 

[Suzierd]

Our Sizzle boy Lucky. He is about 10 weeks old now.

Just adorable!

 

[andreacroyle]

Cull doesn't necessarily mean kill. Many will sell them out to ' backyard enthusiasts ' with the explanation that they are not ' breeders '. Unfortunately they are usually bred anyway .
The breed needs to be preserved and that will be left to purists.

Oh, I didnt know that, thanks for telling me . I did think it meant kill. yes, I do believe someone should keep the breed pure. I bought three ducks and they werent even sure what they were selling me. I knew they appeared to be healthy, but thats about it. the people couldnt even remember what breeds they have at home. I dont care because I have no plans on allowing my eggs to hatch but i did think that these people have no business raising and selling ducks.

as far as "not quality" it only refers to breed standards and not health?

I have heard chicken owners don't visit other chicken owner/ go in their chicken yard. I've seen signs "stay out if you have chickens too" .... smart

Well, I understand the caution, but i wonder how people ever take their chicken to an avian vet or ......what about wild birds. they carry all the same things dont they.

 

[andreacroyle]

Just adorable

yes, i agree! is a sizzle a mixed breed?

 

[Sylvester017]

Usually if I separate them when one goes broody, by doing that I can prevent the others from doing it too. It has worked so far. Henley, the partridge, went in the spring and now again this fall. fairly typical for her. The other girls out in the coop break pretty easily.... except for Snow, the white hen in the pic. She is broody about 3 times a year and is a little monster to break, impossible. So I let her hatch. I have an incubator, but I have never used it for my chicks. I just keep it for emergencies. I love my silkies, and plan on breeding more of course, but the morning off the nest potty trips and making sure they eat and drink enough is very tiring.

Maybe 10 years ago I would've had the stamina to keep up with broodies but being retired for several years now it really exhausts me - especially when I have house chores of cleaning and cooking and vegetable gardening to tend to on top of shopping and errands. I thought "broody" meant "once a year" but my Silkies want nothing but to be mommas several times a year! I don't have enough room in our cottage backyard to have more chicks toodling around and then have to find them homes so I let the Silkies set empty nests until they tire of it. We tried the separation of a broody from the rest but they just seem to have their own cycles with or without another broody to copy. My Partridge is so determined she tried to set a cucumber slice! I lock them out of the coop in the afternoons after I'm sure all hens layed their eggs but the Silkies are so bitc*y and hormonal they just get on each other's nerves - and mine! Adorable little personalities when not broody but just when are they NOT broody

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

I just got a couple weeks old white Silkie chick from my friend @AZChiknGoddess . She's the best! Can't wait to take some pictures tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be a boy, so Georgette, my blue Silkie will have a BBF.