Silkie thread!

[ScaredOfShadows]

What's the point of eating a fluffy tiny little 2 pound bantam? It seems really sad, to me. I didn't realize there were people that found the black skin on them attractive and wanted to eat them. I think I'd have to agree with not selling to anyone who had the intention of eating them or just didn't come across as a really good chicken keeper. I see on Craigslist people wanting to buy more chickens because their dogs attacked and ate THEIR chickens... it's going to happen again, why would they want more if they aren't going to fix the problem and build a secure run. Poor little fluffy butts.

I went to a lot of trouble to be sure everyone is secure and safe, and it doesn't have to be that expensive to do it. I can't imagine a breeder responding to their ad and knowingly sending their birds to slaughter to be eaten by dogs and ripped apart. *shudder* Well, sorry for the tangent! ha!

Still crossing my fingers on fertile eggs, I've started collecting again.

Oriental especially the Chinese I think like to buy silkies for black soup, and the medicinal qualities they attribute to their black bones and meat. I know a few bigger breeders that sell their culls to the chinese market for that reason, easy way to get rid of extra cull birds without the trouble of swaps etc

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

MR REE:

That buff is very nice! Good comb shape, color (though a bit too light but you see it often with buffs), good even golden buff coloring, a tad bit of tail leakage but again you see it a lot - the buffs need more work to get clearer. Nice feet, though his skin color is lighter than you want it. Over all he has very nice type, good crest, great feet. I'd classify him a BQ bird.

 

[peepblessed]

Oriental especially the Chinese I think like to buy silkies for black soup, and the medicinal qualities they attribute to their black bones and meat. I know a few bigger breeders that sell their culls to the chinese market for that reason, easy way to get rid of extra cull birds without the trouble of swaps etc

Depending on where you live, you can not always find sutible homes for the pet quality silkie boys. Mine three are on bug patrol in the yard but I don't think I can continue to do that indefinitely.

 

[Hawkeye95]

Depending on where you live, you can not always find sutible homes for the pet quality silkie boys. Mine three are on bug patrol in the yard but I don't think I can continue to do that indefinitely.

Good point! I haven't thought that far ahead, I suppose. Sigh. I only have hens in my layer coop and they are in no danger of being culled from the group. I do have a couple of silkie cockerels out there with them-- but they are too adorable to get rid of, and they all get along. I guess I better start thinking realistically, however it doesn't mean I will answer those ads that admit to their dogs eating their entire flock.

BTW, Peepblessed, do you have a fenced in backyard, a pen, or are your 3 boys running free range? I know a lot of people don't have my kind of set up and have a much safer yard than I have. I have the 10 acres I own-- and then another 80 in farmed land next to me and because of our open spaces, it's easy pickings for coyotes. My 'backyard' isn't fenced (most of it is barbed wire horse pasture) and I just have a couple pens set up with their coops. The only bird free ranging is my turkey-- and she is an amazing flyer! She can fly up to the top of our pergola (it's 10 feet up). Just wondering what others do with their silkies.

 

[stoopid]

I autopsied one of my silkies a few weeks ago.
Everything is black inside

I was so grossed out, I gave up.
Can't see how they eat them.
I started to freak at the windpipe.
Very strange looking in there.....

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Hey guys I have 4 sikies they are 5 months old. I have 1 blue boy and 3 girls. I was wondering if ya'll could tell me wether my girls are blue or black? And what ya'll think of their looks?
#1

#2

#3

 

[peepblessed]

Good point! I haven't thought that far ahead, I suppose. Sigh. I only have hens in my layer coop and they are in no danger of being culled from the group. I do have a couple of silkie cockerels out there with them-- but they are too adorable to get rid of, and they all get along. I guess I better start thinking realistically, however it doesn't mean I will answer those ads that admit to their dogs eating their entire flock.

BTW, Peepblessed, do you have a fenced in backyard, a pen, or are your 3 boys running free range? I know a lot of people don't have my kind of set up and have a much safer yard than I have. I have the 10 acres I own-- and then another 80 in farmed land next to me and because of our open spaces, it's easy pickings for coyotes. My 'backyard' isn't fenced (most of it is barbed wire horse pasture) and I just have a couple pens set up with their coops. The only bird free ranging is my turkey-- and she is an amazing flyer! She can fly up to the top of our pergola (it's 10 feet up). Just wondering what others do with their silkies.

They get locked up at night but they are definitely at risk during the day. Definitely not the best situation. I haven't lost a chicken to a preditor in many years but that doesn't mean it couldn't happen. My reasoning with these boys is at least I can give them the happiest of lives for a time. Cull roosters have very little positive outlooks for the future. I really don't know what the best solution is. I've had them on craigslist for months.

 

[peepblessed]

Hey guys I have 4 sikies they are 5 months old. I have 1 blue boy and 3 girls. I was wondering if ya'll could tell me wether my girls are blue or black? And what ya'll think of their looks?
#1

#2

#3

I think the first one is purple! Just kidding but she does look purple.

I think black, blue, and blue. They look very nice from what I can see in the limitations of the photos.

 

[Mr. Ree]

MR REE:

That buff is very nice! Good comb shape, color (though a bit too light but you see it often with buffs), good even golden buff coloring, a tad bit of tail leakage but again you see it a lot - the buffs need more work to get clearer. Nice feet, though his skin color is lighter than you want it. Over all he has very nice type, good crest, great feet. I'd classify him a BQ bird.

Thats generally what I was thinking. I know what a good Silkie looks like, just just by seeing it and not looking the bird over. They are stiff competition for me in shows so I like to know im up against in any show hall. Thats why I was wanting to get the varied opinions from the people who actually raise Silkies and know the little things that I may not notice. I know he does have all of his toenails though. And peep, I dont have the Buff Thread. I generally dont post anywhere else but the Cochin Thread. Planned on selling this bird pretty soon just wanted to make sure what I was thinking about him wasnt necessarily a rip off for someone. Anyone else?


~Casey

 

[peepblessed]

Thats generally what I was thinking. I know what a good Silkie looks like, just just by seeing it and not looking the bird over. They are stiff competition for me in shows so I like to know im up against in any show hall. Thats why I was wanting to get the varied opinions from the people who actually raise Silkies and know the little things that I may not notice. I know he does have all of his toenails though. And peep, I dont have the Buff Thread. I generally dont post anywhere else but the Cochin Thread. Planned on selling this bird pretty soon just wanted to make sure what I was thinking about him wasnt necessarily a rip off for someone. Anyone else?


~Casey

Here's the thread, Casey, just in case you want it. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/462799/buff-silkie-thread/660