Silkie thread!

[Aria]

What to look for in SILKIE chicks: feathering on the legs some fuz or evidence of head feathers AS MANY FEATHERS as possible. And I agree with the NC Gal. NOT stand tall etc.
Aria

 

[AnimalCrazed]

That's it... I think I'm going to get some silkies. my only problem is that I can't have any roos because of my location, but we are planning on moving I'm just not sure how soon. my feed store has a mixed batch of bantams and I've already spied some silkies in the bunch. I'm thinking I'll just get four or so to start with. if I get roos I'll be looking for new homes for them if we end up staying here longer. Any advise before picking out the little fluffies???

 

[Rowsdower]

Any advise before picking out the little fluffies???

Check feet carefully. I've come across SEVERAL feed store Silkies with very badly fused toes in the last year. Pick smaller less fiesty chicks. I've had decent luck sexing based on carriage and upper body size. The boys seem to have broader heads and shoulders.

 

[AnimalCrazed]

Okay! I'll defiantly check their feet and toes.
I'm really hoping to go pick them out this evening if I get my brooder put together again!

 

[tamwade]

This is my four week old chick. Rooster I'm pretty sure was my all white silkie and mom could have been barred rock but not absolutely sure as they all lay in the same spot...I think this is a

hen and hopefully she stays this pretty,

this was my favorite out of our March

hatch.

 

[Rowsdower]

This is my four week old chick. Rooster I'm pretty sure was my all white silkie and mom could have been barred rock but not absolutely sure as they all lay in the same spot...

Adorable. He looks a lot like the Silkie/Wyandotte chicks I hatched last year.

 

[Dirge337]

Question!

How do i transition Silkie chicks from inside to outside? They have almost all their feathers and are at 80-83 degrees F during the day. The problem is, it gets to 115 degrees F in AZ. Right now it is 90-95 at the hottest point. How do i transition them to this heat?

Also i noticed one of my Silkie chicks has 4 toes on each foot while the other three have five toes on each foot. Is this a deformity or are they different breeds?

Thanks!

 

[Sylvester017]

That's it... I think I'm going to get some silkies. my only problem is that I can't have any roos because of my location, but we are planning on moving I'm just not sure how soon. my feed store has a mixed batch of bantams and I've already spied some silkies in the bunch. I'm thinking I'll just get four or so to start with. if I get roos I'll be looking for new homes for them if we end up staying here longer. Any advise before picking out the little fluffies???

After getting 2 one-day-old Silkie babies w/ one turning out a roo I no longer get the chicks. I called my feed store and asked if he had Silkie juvies. He said a private customer was bringing in 10 juveniles and that way their sex is identifiable. Our little girl was about 3-m/o and definitely identifiable as a pullet. I don't want to go through the pain of having a chick grow out as a roo and then wonder how to re-home him. Going thru that once was heart-breaking enough!

 

[Rowsdower]

Getting what you think is a pullet is no definite, either. I had one particularly tricky chicken. I went back and forth on her until she laid her first egg, which was almost a year after she was born. Good luck!

 

[Rowsdower]

Also i noticed one of my Silkie chicks has 4 toes on each foot while the other three have five toes on each foot. Is this a deformity or are they different breeds?

Thanks!

It's just the gene for polydactyly run amok. This is quite common in Silkies. I had a chick with 13 toes once, five on one foot and eight on the other.