Silkie thread!

[robin416]

Quote:
What ever works best for you. We all have different set ups that work for us but may not work for you. The one thing you will never accomplish is building big enough that it never fills to the brim with Silkies.

Thank you! I want more already and I just got the ones I have! Thought I would only get two, then added another and well you know.... By the way, I just read the response about the sick bird and not letting roosters eat layer feed...well how does it work with feeding if the rooster resides with the hens? I am wanting to get a roo at some point. ( looks like after I build a bigger coop )

How it works for me is that I have a flock raiser that is 20% protein. And have oyster shell in cups that hang from the wire on the pens. The girls eat what they need of the oyster shell without having the males get more than they should have.

 

[rilly10]

Quote:
X2. This is what I do for my silkies and showgirls as well. They get Flock Raiser as their main feed. I supplement it with BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) to spice it up. I offer free choice oyster shell in feeders on the walls and they also have free choice grit. These are the grit/oyster shell feeders I use. They are for goat minerals but perfect for this too:
http://www.jefferslivestock.com/product.asp?camid=LIV&pn=FX-MF

In the winter I also sprinkle cracked corn or scratch in their pens for added fat/warmth, and to help with winter boredom since they don't hang out outside as much.

 

[homeschoolchick]

Thank you both for your replies! When I thought of getting chickens I looked up a lot of information and it didn't seem too complicated, but now it seems like there is always something new to discover! Thank you for sharing your knowledge

I'm always worried I'm not doing something right, or missing something!

 

[robin416]

Quote:
I've been raising them for years and it seems I learn something new every week. I was going to say that keeping yard birds is easier but actually its not because the same thing applies to them as our Silkies for a long life. Years ago when it was just a bunch of chickens they didn't give animal husbandry much thought at all. Threw out some scratch and called it good.

Once you have your flock established, your set up where you want it and know the basics for keeping them healthy it becomes a normal every day thing in your life.

 

[marquisella]

I found putting some apple cider in the water firms up the poop very well. I'm always amazed when I see all the mounds of solid poop around after I give the vinegar..


Quote:
What do you suggest I feed him? Also what kind of Pro-biotic should I give to him?? Also The droppings were like this before I gave him any medication. I have looked at the website of the different colors of poo his does not look adnormal but the poo is always runny.

Its been really hot and humid which could also explain his loose droppings. Chances are he's drinking more water which causes the droppings to get runnier. Try putting unflavored Pedialyte in the waterers.

You can offer him yogurt with live cultures in it. Or they have different pro-biotics in the vitamin aisle.

 

[Debbi]

Good morning Silkie folks!

Question:

Besides for the obvious faults that show up at hatch; like cross beak, more or less than 5 toes, etc., what age do you start culling for faults, and what faults are they? I realize the longer you hold onto them the more you can tell, but at a young age are there some specific things you look for?

 

[ultasol]

Quote:
No sulmet. Sulmet is far far too hard on internal organs and even mild overdoses or multiple uses can cause organ failure and death,.. this was even in a recent article in the Poultry Press. For coccidia the safest bet is corid/amproloprium. Just the dose in chick feed is not enough- that is a preventative, not curative, dose.

ACV is a good idea, in the water. Make sure he can see well enough to find food and water... trim feathers off backside and keep it clean to prevent fly strike. Is he having neurological problems?

 

[jd08]

Can you show a silkie if she has 2 toenails in one toe? Is that a dq?

 

[homeschoolchick]

Quote:
I've been raising them for years and it seems I learn something new every week. I was going to say that keeping yard birds is easier but actually its not because the same thing applies to them as our Silkies for a long life. Years ago when it was just a bunch of chickens they didn't give animal husbandry much thought at all. Threw out some scratch and called it good.

Once you have your flock established, your set up where you want it and know the basics for keeping them healthy it becomes a normal every day thing in your life.

It is so fun right now trying to figure out what kind of bigger coop I want to make, to get a rooster or not, do I want to get another breed as well, and the big one... how many! The only scary thing is figuring out the best health care! I hope the enjoyment doesn't go away when it becomes "normal".

 

[laughingdog]

Quote:
Not sure if I quite understand.........it is past my bedtime lol

but if you want just mixed color birds, you can always pair blacks with your whites. No telling what is hidden by the white color. As explained in earlier posts, white is an OFF switch and hides patterns and other colors that may be in the bird's background.

So, you aren't sure if you have hens or not?

I did get a good giggle out of the "get one egg one day, two the next" - are your girls laying now? Mine sure are not on that schedule. Sometimes I get 4-6 eggs a day, sometimes I get 2 in one day, some days I get 0!

well one silkie will have an egg and try to shuffle off with it when i try to take, then there will be two others under two (not sure which two as all are evening out in size and look), and they will try to hide them or bite me, or the other way around.

maybe need refresher of what all silkie eggs may look like..