Silkie thread!

[gavinandallison]

Hope you all like my 8 week old:

 

[muddyhorse]

adorable

 

[kfchickenlady]

Quote:
aww, pretty fluffiness!

 

[HatchingFever]

How do you guys organize your birds by the leg band books can someone show me?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Hard to say whether she knows silkies or not. At 5 months, it would be the very, very rare silkie who is laying; at that age it is common to still not be able to tell gender (especially on better quality birds). Supplements such as table scraps and grains are usually good for the birds, although exactly what the scraps and grains consist of makes a difference, and it shoudl not be the bulk of their diet. At 5 months, mine are usually on gamebird rations, although they still may get some chick starter. I never feed scratch (well, at shows they get it, but that is the only time).

If you get them, I would ask when they were last (if ever) wormed, and with what. I'd also look them over closely for lice/mites. Depending on her answer and what you find on the birds, you will probably want to worm them, and also treat for mites/lice. Very definitely keep them in quarantine for at least 2 weeks; 3 to 4 weeks is better.

As for whether to, how many to get? Base it upon their appearance--both their quality and health. If either does not look right, find another breeder, but if they look good, then get the number that seems best to you.

 

[jenesis536]

Thank you for your response! Great advice!

All of my chicks I've had from 3 days to 3 weeks old. I haven't started with 5 month olds, let alone silkies, so outside of the health issues, I also worry about temperament... I like handling and interacting with my babies a lot, but at 5 months I have no idea how they will be.

Can I ask you about the worming? You said ask about what they used? If I should worm them, what do you recommend?

Thank you!!

ETA: She lives in Fremont but I believe in a more rural part of it as she mentioned having a lot of wild birds in the area. I asked her about lice and mite problems, and she mentioned that she sprays down her flock every once in awhile just to make sure they don't have a problem. I asked her what she sprays them with, and she said "the normal bird stuff". I said, "oh, like you get for birds at the pet store", and she said "yeah".

I will check them over very carefully, but I do want to be prepared - what feed should they have, what should I worm them with, and what should I treat them with for lice and mites?

I'm sorry to ask so many stupid questions, but I really don't know and want to give them the best care.

If you also know what I should look out for when checking them over, I would greatly appreciate it. I am hoping for pullets, but I know it's early still. Main thing is health issues for me and making sure I know how to treat them.

Thank you so much!

 

[Tigerstripes]

jenesis536 - I dont know if this info will help, Im just starting out with Silkies, but last weekend I bought 2 pullets and the breeder dusted them with Sevin and put Eprinex drops on the back of their necks (Ivermectin) to be sure they were clean. I appreciated it.

 

[jenesis536]

Thank you for that info - can I ask what type of silkie you have in your avatar photo? I am pretty sure I want one of those.

 

[muddyhorse]

I think tigerstripes avatar is a cuckoo like mine

although I think the eye color is a bit off

 

[HatchingFever]