Silkie thread!

[chicken pickin]

I have seen that happen with one chick but I think it is unlikely she would have squashed all 3 . Were they eating and drinking, sometimes with newbie mums they need a little help.

Im not positive. Every time I looked in on her the chicks were under her peeping. I saw one come out once and it pooped but I never actually saw them eat or drink. She was a "vicious" broody and wouldn't let me get too near. I feel silly I didn't even think to help out with the eating and drinking portion that very well may have been the problem. Ive had many other broodies of different breeds, a cochin being my best, that have done perfectly so I just assumed the Silkie would do well also since I hear they make such wonderful mamas.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Im not positive. Every time I looked in on her the chicks were under her peeping. I saw one come out once and it pooped but I never actually saw them eat or drink. She was a "vicious" broody and wouldn't let me get too near. I feel silly I didn't even think to help out with the eating and drinking portion that very well may have been the problem. Ive had many other broodies of different breeds, a cochin being my best, that have done perfectly so I just assumed the Silkie would do well also since I hear they make such wonderful mamas.

There are always exceptions to the rule. Young mommas are sometimes so worried that someone is going to steal their young that they forget to fulfill their basic needs. I usually tap the water bowl and dip my finger in then put a drop of water at the tip of the beak, they usually catch on pretty quickly.
Perhaps next time she will do better.

 

[kada6305]

My two babies that hatched yesterday

 

[blipit007]

ATTENTION ALL! I NEED HELP FINDING SQ BEARDED SILKIES IN CALIFORNIA. (or near by) CAN ANYONE DIRECT ME TO A GREAT BREEDER? Please and thank you

Sheri Minkner & Judy Wagner are really good. I hatched some of Sheri's eggs this summer. Also if your willing to pay for shipping, Karen Larsen of Catdance is fantastic!

 

[LittleRedCoop53]

Quote:
I have breaded silkies and i live in southern oregon.....i have 7 babies (almost 2 months old) they are all hand raised, and are so friendly and cute...i want to keep a pullet or two if they are the right color. i'm going to have to find homes soon so i can hatch out more .

 

[Half Moon Ranch]

Fair grounds or any livestock areas are places I avoid now. I even question the sanity of local chicken meet-ups where people bring their birds to sell. Most people are solicitous and careful about their flocks but all it takes is one careless or unaware chickeneer to have "for sale" birds and spread diseases/parasites. Some diseases can be transferred through hatching eggs and all it takes is one unscrupulous seller on eBay to ruin it for the other 99% sellers who are honest. I ordered from a private breeder cross-country and when I received my POL bird shipment they had feather lice and one died in a couple weeks during quarantine from worms. These birds were old enough to have been wormed and lice treatment is easy so how could that breeder in good conscience send me infested birds? Buyer beware - not all breeders are careful and just want your $$$. I don't buy eggs from backyarders because I don't know what health maintenance they follow. If my hens aren't laying, I don't buy anyone else's. One store I buy eggs from is Trader Joe's but only if I don't have enough of my own eggs to bake during the holidays - I had to do that only one year so far!

Health maintenance schedules with a backyard flock takes extra work and $$$ to buy the appropriate products for both chickens and their housing. Lazy or unaware chickeneers want to raise chickens to sell meat and eggs without investing this time and $$$ into their flock's health. I am being very picky about who I get my birds from these days. Sometimes it takes me 6 months and several reviews/blogs before I'm satisfied about a breeder's reputation and health of birds/hatching eggs. Sometimes there are inherited genetic factors that can cause a bird's illness or unexpected death but certainly worms and lice and environment are easily preventable health hazards!!! JMHO

When we were looking to re-home some roosters, I came in an ace of inviting a guy over who was interested.
I now feel lucky that he lost interest because there's no telling what if anything his flock might have had that he would bring to mine.
I had also entertained the idea of picking up some birds at a local auction, but I think I'll pass on that now.
I liked the suggestion someone made regarding a sign and I think I'll do just that.
All this has me wondering what if anything squirrels might introduce to the flock?
I see the tree rats all the time after they have snuck up to forage for scratch that has gone uneaten.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

When we were looking to re-home some roosters, I came in an ace of inviting a guy over who was interested.
I now feel lucky that he lost interest because there's no telling what if anything his flock might have had that he would bring to mine.
I had also entertained the idea of picking up some birds at a local auction, but I think I'll pass on that now.
I liked the suggestion someone made regarding a sign and I think I'll do just that.
All this has me wondering what if anything squirrels might introduce to the flock?
I see the tree rats all the time after they have snuck up to forage for scratch that has gone uneaten.

Wild birds, mosquitos, flies, rats, mice, squirrels, mites, ticks, snakes, dogs, cats.... Anything that can move from one farm to another can carry diseases to your flock. I spoke to a guy in the midwest who has 3000 birds. His biosecurity consists of culling sick birds and disposing of them in the garbage. He feels that medicating sick birds just breeds weak immune systems into your birds. No matter the disease, some will not get it and those are the birds he breeds from. The key is to quarantine new birds, monitor your birds closely, keep their parasite loads low, use probiotics to keep their digestive systems at peak performance, keep coops clean, and limit exposure if possible. Outside of that there is not much else you can do to prevent diseases.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Wild birds, mosquitos, flies, rats, mice, squirrels, mites, ticks, snakes, dogs, cats.... Anything that can move from one farm to another can carry diseases to your flock. I spoke to a guy in the midwest who has 3000 birds. His biosecurity consists of culling sick birds and disposing of them in the garbage. He feels that medicating sick birds just breeds weak immune systems into your birds. No matter the disease, some will not get it and those are the birds he breeds from. The key is to quarantine new birds, monitor your birds closely, keep their parasite loads low, use probiotics to keep their digestive systems at peak performance, keep coops clean, and limit exposure if possible. Outside of that there is not much else you can do to prevent diseases.

That guy needs to do a bit more research. The only effective way to dispose of disease carrying animals is burial or better still incineration. By placing them in the garbage you are simply relocating the disease. Rodents , Mosquitos and wild birds are definately a threat to bio security but so too are red mites. They can transmit MG , mareks and coryza, just to name a few. All you can do is take steps to protect your flock against the obvious dangers. Otherwise you will go grey worrying about it.

 

[AZChiknGoddess]

That guy needs to do a bit more research. The only effective way to dispose of disease carrying animals is burial or better still incineration. By placing them in the garbage you are simply relocating the disease. Rodents , Mosquitos and wild birds are definately a threat to bio security but so too are red mites. They can transmit MG , mareks and coryza, just to name a few. All you can do is take steps to protect your flock against the obvious dangers. Otherwise you will go grey worrying about it.

I agree. You cannot worry yourself to death about what might happen. Use a common sense approach and realize some things are outside your control.

 

[MrsFitzDarcy]

Sheri Minkner & Judy Wagner are really good. I hatched some of Sheri's eggs this summer. Also if your willing to pay for shipping, Karen Larsen of Catdance is fantastic!

I am from Old Lyme, CT. One of my good friends is still teaching in the high school in Clinton. I miss the Connecticut Shoreline so much!