- May 12, 2012
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I don't have any silkies to show off *totally jealous* but rather hoping to have a couple questions answered regarding silkies and other hens.
We've been thinking about chickens for years and have finally found a house in a town that allows backyard birds so I'm running before my feet even hit the ground. lol
We'd hoped to start with a few silkies, something more like a pet for the kids. Silkies have been recommended by many as a first chicken for us although, after reading about breeds here I'm not sure as there are so many sweet breeds. We definitely want to add laying hens so I'm wondering now if it's a good idea to get the silkies first and then add laying hens later. Should we skip the silkies altogether? Get everything at once? I'm hoping to have 2-4 laying hens that are docile, calm, friendly, quiet, something that won't be a bother to our new neighbors.
We like the idea of a tractor, it seems so easy, you don't have to clean out the bottom. Just move them to a new, clean space. I'm not against a stationary coop but would want a tractor to allow the hens to free range at least a little bit, especially when I'm running errands. The chickens could be out in the tractor/s with the dog in the yard to protect them. (see the anatolian to the left;-)
My goals in having chickens are to have pets to love, educate my children, provide eggs for my family, control the feed content, control insect population in my yard, and fertilize my yard and garden.
Advice?
I have 7 birds total, but I started with a silkie and a silkie cross (a sizzle which is a silkie x cochin.) My older girls (8 and 10) do 4h with them. We got them first at about 4 months old and then added to our flock. We added what I thought was two buff orpingtons, but turned out to be a buff orpington and a buff plymouth rock, as 20 week old. I also have a few chicks that are younger, and not in the "general population." They are a cochin, a polish, and a sebright...all small bantams about 8-12 weeks. The silkie I have lays me about 5 eggs a week. Smaller eggs, but still plenty tasty and worthwhile. Personally, I would get the silkies first and then add the laying hens as younger chicks. As others have pointed out though, it is difficult to find sexed pullets that aren't from a hatchery. As far as egg layers go, my buff orpington is a big girl, but docile with the other chickens, and allows my 22 month old to manhandle her.
All the birds get along pretty well...except for that little black and white one (the Sebright) which turned out to be a roo...and he is a turd.
I also have a movable coop aka tractor. I love it. I free range everyone most of the time, but when I am not home and at night, they are in the coop. I hose down the area where they were the previous day and there is never really any mess.
Hope this helps answer your questions.