Silkie thread!

[Saris]

I am so happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just found my first silkie eggs!!! found 3 but think only one is laying!!
My mom said that you don't know if they are a cockerel or pullet till they crow or lay and egg. We thought "Anna" was a boy, but no she laid an egg.  Now there is an egg song symphony going on so probably more than one is laying.

Awesome!

 

[QueenMisha]

Well, I've gotta say, between this thread and the time I've spent planning my upcoming Silkie project, I've really rather fallen in love with the breed. They were never my favorite - I currently have 5 and 4 of them were my mother's idea - but the more I see them and work with them the more I'm enjoying the breed. Right now I'm working on making room for some Cuckoo and Buff Silkies, and maybe some reds or Red Partridge. Along with Barred Cochins and Buff Cochins for the project!

I'm also hoping to do some experimenting with the 4 I currently have - a Splash Frilkie, a Partridge hen, two white hens. Well, I have a black male as well, but he's an awful, awful, mean bird, who I would have made stew of long ago if it wasn't for my mother liking him (God knows why).

 

[ctc084]

I'm addicted to these little buggers. Hopefully I get some great quality little chicks this spring.

 

[Naliez]

Rub them on your face. 'Cause they're so soft.

I agree with this advice...

 

[VillaRosaAcres]

What are using to tape crests? Ive heard hair tape, (which is impossible to find and I'm a hairstylist) medical/skin tape, anything else? I have lots of painters tape, vet wrap, etc on hand?

 

[Adorkable]

What are using to tape crests? Ive heard hair tape, (which is impossible to find and I'm a hairstylist) medical/skin tape, anything else? I have lots of painters tape, vet wrap, etc on hand?

I've heard medical tape and masking tape (not sure if I spelled that right).

 

[VillaRosaAcres]

Thank you!!

 

[Adorkable]

You're welcome

 

[Banaynaychicken]

I agree with this advice...

we are both in much agreement XD

 

[Sylvester017]

What are using to tape crests? Ive heard hair tape, (which is impossible to find and I'm a hairstylist) medical/skin tape, anything else? I have lots of painters tape, vet wrap, etc on hand?

Don't know why anyone needs to tape Silkie crests. My two have been outdoor free-ranging Silkies for nearly 5 years and happen to nibble each other's faces just around the eyes that I never figured they needed taping or trimming by me. They carefully and gently groom each other. I haven't needed to worry about them seeing predators and often they are the first to sound the barnyard alert. I mean, tape if you want, but in all the time we've had Silkies it only appears they are blind but really see quite well through their fluff - especially after a nibble trim from their Silkie flockmate. We've had Cooper's Hawks visit our yard and be 5-feet from our hiding flock but because of numerous low shelters and dog houses spaced around the yard there is a shelter closeby for a Silkie to hide/snooze under. Hawks can see them but don't seem to go after hiding hens. Chicks is a different story and I wouldn't have them in an open yard but the adult Silkies are very quick to duck into a doghouse when there's a fly-by predator. We also have a pop-up canopy and some evergreen and stickery rosebushes for the hens to shelter under. The key is not to have too much open lawn or field area where the hawks like to swoop down on running hens. After our yard remodeling we hope to add another feature like an arched bridge in the center lawn for the hens to hide under. When we first got our flock we used plywood sheets cut in half and mounted on cinderblocks as low shelters - they weren't pretty in the beginning but now we hope to use nicer looking ideas like patio benches, plants, lawn tables and chairs, and a decorator bridge as some nicer looking shelters spaced around the yard.