Silkie thread!

[moomoodiddy]

So right now I am feeding layer pellets with cracked corn and wheat seed supplement, all of which I normally don't feed I just got really good deals on them. I am having fertility problems. Do I need to switch back to flock raiser with a wild bird seed mix? I swear the eggs I am putting in the incubator have bulls eyes but only 2 out of 20 eggs are developing!

 

[Fancychooklady]

So right now I am feeding layer pellets with cracked corn and wheat seed supplement, all of which I normally don't feed I just got really good deals on them. I am having fertility problems. Do I need to switch back to flock raiser with a wild bird seed mix? I swear the eggs I am putting in the incubator have bulls eyes but only 2 out of 20 eggs are developing!

As long as it is a good quality layer pellet it should be sufficient . Too much corn and sunflower leads to fat birds and obese birds have fertility problems and lower productivity .
The flock raiser on its own should also be a balanced diet.
How old is your roo ?

 

[jessivogel]

A week ago I was given 16 silkie eggs from a neighbor. I candled them today- two quitters- 14 going strong!! got this great picture of one and had to share it!!

 

[kssilkiemama]

I just impulse bought 6 Splash Silkie hatching eggs on EBay... whoops! I honestly didn't even go there to buy anything, just to check the prices on Sebastapol hatching eggs... but there they were with 3 minutes on the clock and a good price... haven't had shipped eggs since last spring but I'm excited for these guys! Given the 15 eggs already in my incubator and plans for a bunch more to go in on the 1st, I think this officially makes me a hatchaholic!

LOL!!! I did the same thing! I haven't bought eggs in years and couldn't resist these! And I have no broody hens, which someone had better become broody by Monday...My other hens have just barely started laying this week so I was kind of hoping to have one sit on eggs rather than fire up my incubator.

 

[kssilkiemama]

"Chickaletta" and her little baby tucked under the wing! Silkies are amazing mommas!!!!

Yes they are...and I have two that if you get within two feet of them or their babies, they puff out and try their best to flog you! I was just trying to put new woodchips in their box one day and took the worst flogging from a hen I have ever witnessed. They are only aggressive when they have chicks and it is only my two old hens. But when they go broody, you can't beat them for raising chicks!

 

[moomoodiddy]

As long as it is a good quality layer pellet it should be sufficient . Too much corn and sunflower leads to fat birds and obese birds have fertility problems and lower productivity .
The flock raiser on its own should also be a balanced diet.
How old is your roo ?

One is getting on up in age (around 4 or 5 years and that's why I am so desperate to hatch a last batch from him) but has never had trouble before, most of the few eggs that did develop were his(I saw him mounting his three hens). And the other two I just got a few months back from a well know breeder and were supposed to be just in the breeding age. I separated the two thinking they were too brotherly and not thinking about the hens and then one got wry neck and so I am using the one left. He does the mating dance and the hens he is with have squatted when I went to pick them up, but I have not seen them in action and they have been together for at least 2 months. It is the one rooster and two hens(pullets really) in a large pen. I re trimmed their vents today. I swear the eggs have bulls eyes and then I go and incubate them and only 2 or 3 out of 20ish are developing. I do have a cheap incubator I am using because my hens won't go broody but I don't think that is the problem.

 

[kssilkiemama]

My husband tried several times to incubate eggs and would only get one or none to hatch. He finally figured out his thermometer was bad and after that, successful hatches!

 

[silkiecuddles]

"Chickaletta" and her little baby tucked under the wing! Silkies are amazing mommas!!!!

so sweet

A week ago I was given 16 silkie eggs from a neighbor. I candled them today- two quitters- 14 going strong!! got this great picture of one and had to share it!!

congrats! Keep us updated!

My husband tried several times to incubate eggs and would only get one or none to hatch. He finally figured out his thermometer was bad and after that, successful hatches!

oh good!! Silkies are harder to hatch, IMO

 

[jessivogel]

so sweet
congrats! Keep us updated!
oh good!! Silkies are harder to hatch, IMO

Thanks! Sure will! Any suggestions? These are my first silkies. His roo did a darn good job fertilizing!

 

[Kalija74]

oh yeah... I was so taken back by her when she pecked me for trying to pick up her baby, but if the baby is not around she's my best bud again