Silkie thread!

[Lamaremybabies]

My Silkie cockerel was loud and wouldn't shut-up and we're not zoned for cockerels -- had to re-home the little guy and he was so-o-o sweet! We did however keep his sister and she's my oldest hen at 5 yrs old!

How pretty. My silkies came from my TSC so he's very far from breed standards but he's pretty. Your hens are gorgeous! I love the colorations.

 

[fireredcannon]

How pretty. My silkies came from my TSC so he's very far from breed standards but he's pretty.

Your hens are gorgeous! I love the colorations.

I too bought the tsc silkies, but my roo is lowest on the pecking order and is very quiet so far. my amber link roo's are just starting to crow and stand up to the territorial ducks

 

[mom of silkies]

I love all the flock/guardian (not working/herding) dog breeds -- Pyrenees, Anatolians, Caucasian Shepherds, Ovcharkas, Maremmas, etc., because unlike working/herding breeds the guardian breeds don't chase after predators but stay with the flock to protect it. We had great Rottweiler herding dogs around horses but they had the tendency to leave the herd to chase after potential predators/invaders. There is something very protective about guardian breeds to stay with their owner/family members, their herd, their flock, and most have great instinctive restraint to resist abandoning their post to chase after invaders as most other breeds will tend to do. Although the protective instinct seems instilled in the guardian breeds it does not necessarily mean that every individual will be exactly the same -- some individuals within a guardian breed may be inherently better at the task than others. I would LOVE to have a Pyrenees or Ovcharka but because all the guardian breeds are in the 100+ weight range we can't keep one in our tiny cottage backyard. They require a sizeable property for exercise or have long walks every day so we opted not to get a dog. If we had a couple acres of free-range birds or had a farm I'd get a couple guardian dogs to work in tandem on the property. They may sit among the flock members and look lazy but they are ever-alert and on watch. I have not had experience with other guardian breeds but know owners of Pyrenees and Ovcharka and it is amazing how children roll around the floor and climb onto these tolerant gentle giants. In lieu of a flock, these dogs treat the family members as their "flock" duty. I had an occasion to dog-sit an Ovcharka who had no problem assessing that a stray rabbit in the yard was no threat and just watched the little bunny hopping along with no tendency to chase after it. Later that afternoon a coyote came to the backyard fence and the Ovcharka stood in front of me watching the coyote and never left my side until the coyote finally moved on. However, my DD's Pitbull mix left me to go chasing after a possum and no command training in the world would recall her!!!

I have 5 Anatolians, and 1 Pyrenees, I've also had several Anatolian/pyrenees crosses. I prefer Anatolians, I've found they are more protective (people wise) and I have to shave my Pyr. every summer because of the heat... But they are both fantastic breeds. I always have mine in pairs, because I live in VA and we have LOTS of coyotes, and while my dogs could easily deal with a few Coyotes on their own a whole pack not so much... All 5 of the Anatolians are above 115 Llbs, the Pyr. a little smaller than them (around 105 Llbs). But I would not trade them for the world. The only thing about the Anatolians is some take longer to be "everything friendly" (in other words not eat the little animals, poultry,lambs,etc...) But every dog is VERY different I have a 1 1/2 year old Anatolian and she lives full time with the poultry and doesn't harm a feather on them!

 

[Janet Lynn]

These are my 10 week old silkies. Can anyone tell if they are hens or Roosters? I can post again later if they are to young still.

 

[kjscortez]

Do your silkies eggs hatch at 21 days when letting the hen do it?(no incubator)

 

[Zgm12]

Do your silkies eggs hatch at 21 days when letting the hen do it?(no incubator)

Yes, it's the same time as the incubator. Of course, there always seems to be a couple chicks who hatch a day or two early and a couple chicks that hatch a day late. Overall, the median should always be day 21 if the incubating is done correctly.

 

[kjscortez]

@Zgm12

Gotcha! I wasn't sure, I've read that bantams are sometimes 18 days... I ran into trouble with serama eggs (not waiting long enough)
I don't want to screw up again!
Thanks!!

 

[Zgm12]

[COLOR=0000FF]These are my 10 week old silkies. Can anyone tell if they are hens or Roosters? I can post again later if they are to young still.[/COLOR]

I'd say, 1. Hen 2. Rooster 3. Hen? More pictures would help, especially of the comb area. I'm not positive on the last one either.

 

[Zgm12]

Yes, it's the same time as the incubator. Of course, there always seems to be a couple chicks who hatch a day or two early and a couple chicks that hatch a day late. Overall, the median should always be day 21 if the incubating is done correctly.

Gotcha! I wasn't sure, I've read that bantams are sometimes 18 days... I ran into trouble with serama eggs (not waiting long enough)
I don't want to screw up again!
Thanks!![/quote]
There are some people who claim to have chicks hatch on day 18. I have a experienced a day 19 hatch once and several day 20 hatches but the bulk of chicks hatch on day 21. Just know that your broody hen has it covered no matter what. They know exactly what to do and when to lock down the chicks for hatch day.

 

[Fancychooklady]

[COLOR=0000FF]These are my 10 week old silkies. Can anyone tell if they are hens or Roosters? I can post again later if they are to young still.[/COLOR]

The partridge looks very rooish.