Silkie thread!

[kyexotics]

Silkies do have 5 toes. I was referring more to crooked or bent toes that if taped early enough , can be corrected. Doesn't usually occur when they have been hatched naturally, it's more of an incubator issue, but it pays to be safe . It's just a regular health check that is easiest done whilst they are young. I also check for leg deformities and crooked beak.
Special need chicks need to be identified early.

How do you handle the special needs chicks?

 

[Fancychooklady]

How do you handle the special needs chicks?

I guess it depends on the extent of the problem. Toe taping, leg bracing and beak trimming are relatively easy. In the event of more serious problems isolation and hand feeding is sometimes required. I don't like euthanizing animals unless I know that they are suffering and beyond help.

 

[kyexotics]

I guess it depends on the extent of the problem. Toe taping, leg bracing and beak trimming are relatively easy. In the event of more serious problems isolation and hand feeding is sometimes required. I don't like euthanizing animals unless I know that they are suffering and beyond help.

Was hoping for another way LOL We're the same, seem to collect them...At moment, a sebright with bad hips, maybe a yr old, he'll live inside catered to till he passes...I get sad when I see him, he was so vibrant, then one day, paralyzed***...A 'special needs' pekin, 3mths old, with a double crest! It can't stand up, no balance so it'll live, catered to, in a sling until another solution arises...We had a one legged duck but someone actually saw him, fell in love and bought him! We were willing to keep him as he could totally function, just had one leg...One strong leg! LOL

***We just got rid of his replacement who turned out to be a total hellion...Both our legs are carved up, feeding him was like being Bruce Lee fighting in the house of mirrors!

But he was beautiful and was kind to Bonnie so we kept him, but now that we have 6 babies, and more on way, from their eggs, he's gone! We'll replacement him with one of his kids who mommy(Bonnie) took to right away, even though hatched in bator...He was mean, we didn't know how he'd be to babies...

 

[Fancychooklady]

Was hoping for another way LOL We're the same, seem to collect them...At moment, a sebright with bad hips, maybe a yr old, he'll live inside catered to till he passes...I get sad when I see him, he was so vibrant, then one day, paralyzed***...A 'special needs' pekin, 3mths old, with a double crest! It can't stand up, no balance so it'll live, catered to, in a sling until another solution arises...We had a one legged duck but someone actually saw him, fell in love and bought him! We were willing to keep him as he could totally function, just had one leg...One strong leg! LOL ***We just got rid of his replacement who turned out to be a total hellion...Both our legs are carved up, feeding him was like being Bruce Lee fighting in the house of mirrors!

But he was beautiful and was kind to Bonnie so we kept him, but now that we have 6 babies, and more on way, from their eggs, he's gone! We'll replacement him with one of his kids who mommy(Bonnie) took to right away, even though hatched in bator...He was mean, we didn't know how he'd be to babies...

Many of these issues are as a result of humidity fluctuations during incubation but some can be attributed to feed and deficienciency. I give my silkies a multi vitamin on a weekly basis through winter. For anyone to get more than the occasional deformity there are two main contributing factors to consider, feed and inbreeding. I change my Roos out every 2 years. I've only ever had 1 crossed beak bird and I suspect that was a breeding issue. He is a special needs bird and has been removed from the breeding pens. I have an ' all boys ' pen.

 

[tjo804]

Fancy ...

I have heard of an *ALL BOYS OR BACHELOR PEN* my question is I was told Roos can live happily together as long as they do not see or have access to any hens. is that the case or do you do something special that makes for harmony in the pen?

 

[kyexotics]

Many of these issues are as a result of humidity fluctuations during incubation but some can be attributed to feed and deficienciency. I give my silkies a multi vitamin on a weekly basis through winter. For anyone to get more than the occasional deformity there are two main contributing factors to consider, feed and inbreeding. I change my Roos out every 2 years. I've only ever had 1 crossed beak bird and I suspect that was a breeding issue.
He is a special needs bird and has been removed from the breeding pens. I have an ' all boys ' pen.

Our incubators are digital, we have 5 of them and each has 2 temp/humidity backup detectors(we've learned over the years), we also give probiotics, vitamins and electrolytes to all newborns for a couple of weeks, then on and off, especially now, when hot and easy to dehydrate, even when they have access to water...Other than that, inbreeding could be an issue, never thought about rotating roos, will have to talk to other half on that one...Thanks for that idea...

 

[Adorkable]

Fancy ...

I have heard of an *ALL BOYS OR BACHELOR PEN* my question is I was told Roos can live happily together as long as they do not see or have access to any hens. is that the case or do you do something special that makes for harmony in the pen?

It's true. I know of a lady here in Oklahoma that has a big pen with just roosters and they get alone just fine. I've kept 5 in a pen for about a year without any problems.

 

[tjo804]

Quote:
were they able to see the hens in another pen?
I ask because I am looking at building new set up and it will be located on the other side of my back yard what I am wondering is if I use my old set up which will be in sight of the new set up should the boys be ok in a gentlemen s setting (can see the ladies but no touching).
I have been successful with 2 bantam roo's and 1 Silkie roo in the same coop with my Ladies. At that time they spent all day in the yard and only slept in the coop but sadly now they must be mostly coop/run birds. Until we get the privacy fence up and that has to wait till we get some likeness of leveling done to the ground.
DH wont eat the eggs of a hen who has *kissed* a rooster
I know I have at least 1 roo in my new chicks and since 8 of them were straight run I know there will be more.

OH OH also
at what age does the lovely bluish tint come in on a silkie earlobe? I don't see it on my 5 week old babies I am hoping it is not time rather than they just wont have it.

 

[Fancychooklady]

were they able to see the hens in another pen? I ask because I am looking at building new set up and it will be located on the other side of my back yard what I am wondering is if I use my old set up which will be in sight of the new set up should the boys be ok in a gentlemen s setting (can see the ladies but no touching). I have been successful with 2 bantam roo's and 1 Silkie roo in the same coop with my Ladies. At that time they spent all day in the yard and only slept in the coop but sadly now they must be mostly coop/run birds. Until we get the privacy fence up and that has to wait till we get some likeness of leveling done to the ground. DH wont eat the eggs of a hen who has *kissed* a rooster I know I have at least 1 roo in my new chicks and since 8 of them were straight run I know there will be more. [COLOR=008080]OH OH also[/COLOR] [COLOR=008080]at what age does the lovely bluish tint come in on a silkie earlobe? I don't see it on my 5 week old babies I am hoping it is not time rather than they just wont have it.[/COLOR]

My batchelor pad has hens on three sides. They follow up and down the fence line dropping their wing and doing the dance but there is relative harmony amoungst the boys.

 

[tjo804]

That is awesome news! thank you!