Silkie thread!

[CALI CHICK]

Can I just let y'all know this thread is BAD.....bad, bad, bad! I've read through almost the entire thing now, and decided I just HAD to have Silkies again. So, I picked up 3 SQ Porcelains, a blue and an off colored Silkie to get my fix. That breeder gave me 3 tiny Silkie eggs, of which one tiny black Silkie hatched. Well, that poor tiny black Silkie was all alone, so of course it needed some company! A few days ago I picked up 11 more SQ chicks- 3 more blacks, 5 blues, 2 lavenders and a splash (at least I think its splash, the feller sold it as a pearl?). And, over the course of the last few weeks I've gotten rid of all but 2 of my beloved LF Cochins to make room for more (not to mention I've finally convinced my DH that I NEED another coop for my precious Silkies)! So, thanks fluffy enablers! Now I'm over run with poof headed puffy butts! Hopefully I can share some pictures soon- I'm just dying to show them off to anyone who'll look!!!!

I'm totally with you! I'm down to 8 silkies and NEED to incubate more...I'm going crazy!

Interesting, the only reason I'm not incubating more silkie eggs is: 1. My husband thinks I have enough chickens, and 2. I need another (3rd) coop! Sounds familiar, huh!?

 

[LiAuEv]

Anyone have any buff, partridge & blue partridge hatching eggs? Thanks!

 

[peepblessed]

I've been mostly lurking since I got my 3 week old Silkies 3 weeks ago. I have 6 of them, here are two. Oh and these are hatchery babies from Ideal so please don't tell me they're ugly

Don't mind the baby hand, he's 21 months and he adores the chickens. I try to keep them away from the babies until they have all of their feathers but he's relentless. One of my blue babies:



One of my white babies, this one has two toes on each foot fused together but s/he gets around just fine so we're leaving them alone:



We have 2 whites, 2 blacks, and 2 blues out there along with 11 other babies (Polish, Houdans, Frizzles, a Barred Rock, a Sultan, D'Uccles).

Most of us started with hatchery silkies and we all loved them too! That picture with the babies hand is soooo adorable!!

 

[KMHunter]

Quote: The only reason I didn't start with hatchery silkies is because I had eggs on the way when I came across silkies at my local feeds store! My DH would have killed me! I already have more than I know what to do with at the moment! I just need to grow them out and see who I want to keep! Finding the room is always an issue. Lol! NEED MORE COOPS!!

 

[peepblessed]

So my white non bearded mama hen right now is what most would call UGLY pet quality. But she throws some really pretty babies. that almost look bearded and have nice crest and feet feathers. So my question is should I keep her in my breeding program or replace her with one of her chick that is 4month olds now . Here is a picture of mother and child.
Suggie



Angelica

This article has been helpful to me. http://www.americansilkiebantamclub.org/articles/Improving The Quality of Your Silkie Flock.asp That's a beautiful baby! The nice thing about the beardless is that those beautiful earlobes show!!

 

[peepblessed]

Can I just let y'all know this thread is BAD.....bad, bad, bad! I've read through almost the entire thing now, and decided I just HAD to have Silkies again. So, I picked up 3 SQ Porcelains, a blue and an off colored Silkie to get my fix. That breeder gave me 3 tiny Silkie eggs, of which one tiny black Silkie hatched. Well, that poor tiny black Silkie was all alone, so of course it needed some company! A few days ago I picked up 11 more SQ chicks- 3 more blacks, 5 blues, 2 lavenders and a splash (at least I think its splash, the feller sold it as a pearl?). And, over the course of the last few weeks I've gotten rid of all but 2 of my beloved LF Cochins to make room for more (not to mention I've finally convinced my DH that I NEED another coop for my precious Silkies)! So, thanks fluffy enablers! Now I'm over run with poof headed puffy butts! Hopefully I can share some pictures soon- I'm just dying to show them off to anyone who'll look!!!!

We always need more people like you on here so we don't think we are crazy!! Can't wait for pictures!!! When you say SQ chicks, I assume you mean they came from SQ parents?

 

[peepblessed]

The ones that get large rounded crests are most always girls. Also I can tell by her demeanor. The girls sit around, posing, looking pretty. The boys are more active and alert, craning their necks, looking this way and that.

It is always possible to be fooled by Silkies, but I am 97% sure.

That is the same method I use but I usually have to wait 10 - 12 weeks.

 

[peepblessed]

Looks like my blue partridge. The lighting definitely affects the colors in images, esp from digital cameras. Pretty bird

Beautiful!!! I love her!!!

 

[peepblessed]

I have a hen that is a bit nicer than your mom, but definitely not the greatest, and she throws my best babies.

On the inside of the fence.

These are her only 2 babies that are old enough to see the difference of quality between mother and kids.

So your blue hen is throwing white babies! What color is the dad? Genetics are so fun.

 

[peepblessed]

The only reason I didn't start with hatchery silkies is because I had eggs on the way when I came across silkies at my local feeds store! My DH would have killed me! I already have more than I know what to do with at the moment! I just need to grow them out and see who I want to keep! Finding the room is always an issue. Lol! NEED MORE COOPS!!

Has anyone ever had too many coops or a run that was too big?