Silkie thread!

[celestialdreamer]

We are currently planning on buying some silkies and I have a couple quick questions We are familiar with raising chickens (we have a large heritage breed laying flock) but totally new to the silkie thing. My 8 year old daughter fell in love with the look of them and we have 4 on order at the end of the month so I am trying to get prepared now. I am guessing we should plan on raising them separately in an enclosed coop rather than letting them free range with the rest of our heavy breeds? Since they are straight run, is it a problem with silkies if you end up with more than one roo? Any specific needs or health concerns that I should be aware of that are different than what we are raising now? We currently have Orpingtons, Australorps, Jersey Giant (just one hen), Wyandottes, Barred Rock and a few Easter Eggers. Is there anyone that successfully raises their silkies with any of those breeds without a separate enclosure? Our flock is all free range with a very secure house at night.

 

[Debbi]

I keep my Silkies seperately from my other breed, Marans. Silkie roos will clash, mostly a lot of bravado, and I have yet to see any of them hurt each other. Don't let the Silkie size fool you, they WILL and CAN breed a willing large fowl hen! The big roos may also try to breed the Silkie hens too, and because of size difference, may hurt them. Silkies should have a covered run (as in a roof) if possible. Silkie feathers do not shed water, so when it rains or snows, they get soaked to the skin! Not a bad thing in warm/hot weather, but can be deadly in the cold. Mine get the same rations as the other breed, plus veggies, bread, mealworms, BOSS, and they love to dig around in straw. They are good layers, and sometimes I have more eggs than I know what to do with, so I hard boil a batch and feed them back to the chickens. Silkies are also prone to head/brain injuries, especially if they have vaulted skulls. You will notice them on chicks, it looks like a knot on top of their heads. This is a cerebral hernia (vaulted skull), and that knot is the brain, covered only with skin. Much like a baby's soft spot, but protruding. Some birds get such a large, poofy crest, that they cannot see well. If you are going to let them free range, I would suggest trimming back the crest so they can see! Other than that, and to watch them for predators, I don't let mine free range at all because of all the hawks out here!, they are a very comical and gentle breed. My other birds don't even recognize them as "chickens". Little Alien birds, for those who love different, funny, and great pets for kids! Oh, and the girls are known to go broody at the drop of a hat, and make great moms to their babies.

 

[Lady Chickadee]

I would think 2 to 4 weeks.

Okay, thanks!!

 

[spowell]

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some critique on a few Roo's.... they are around 5 to 5.5 months old.

This is the Blue Roo, He would NOT stand still for pics!!










Here is the Black Roo, same age as above.







This is the Pretridge Roo, Same age








This is the closest I could get for foot feathering. He wouldn't stand still.


OK, I have these three roos growing out. The blue and black roos are going to be in the same pen with BBS hens. All the hens do have nice tight wings to offset these roos. The Partridge also has 4 hens growing out for him and they all seen to have nice wings also. So, please tell me your honest opinion on these guys. What are their faults?

Sharon

 

[peepblessed]

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some critique on a few Roo's.... they are around 5 to 5.5 months old.

This is the Blue Roo, He would NOT stand still for pics!!










Here is the Black Roo, same age as above.







This is the Pretridge Roo, Same age








This is the closest I could get for foot feathering. He wouldn't stand still.


OK, I have these three roos growing out. The blue and black roos are going to be in the same pen with BBS hens. All the hens do have nice tight wings to offset these roos. The Partridge also has 4 hens growing out for him and they all seen to have nice wings also. So, please tell me your honest opinion on these guys. What are their faults?

Sharon

They look like very nice boys to me, but I'm not an expert. Hope you get some imput from those who are.

 

[spowell]

Thanks peepblessed.

 

[County Boy]

Really nice out today and let my flock free range. They really enjoyed ti. Do you know any treats silkies really enjoy.

 

[Hawkeye95]

These are all really nice! Hopefully someone like Sonoran will come in and do a better job of critiquing. IMO, they have nice crests, good cushion, and good combs. The partridge looks like his back is longer than the others? Could be his stance. Very pretty!

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some critique on a few Roo's.... they are around 5 to 5.5 months old.

This is the Blue Roo, He would NOT stand still for pics!!










Here is the Black Roo, same age as above.







This is the Pretridge Roo, Same age








This is the closest I could get for foot feathering. He wouldn't stand still.


OK, I have these three roos growing out. The blue and black roos are going to be in the same pen with BBS hens. All the hens do have nice tight wings to offset these roos. The Partridge also has 4 hens growing out for him and they all seen to have nice wings also. So, please tell me your honest opinion on these guys. What are their faults?

Sharon

 

[spowell]

FOOD!

When giving mine treats, that constructed anything that is not chicken crumbles. Spinach, tomatoes, lettuce, spaghetti, any leftovers from dinner and the absolute favorite is bread ( white over wheat

)

Really nice out today and let my flock free range. They really enjoyed ti. Do you know any treats silkies really enjoy.

 

[peepblessed]

Really nice out today and let my flock free range. They really enjoyed ti. Do you know any treats silkies really enjoy.

I raised a ton of winter squash this year and my chickens think raw squash is the best! Of course I doubt you can beat meal worms.