Silkie thread!

[SunnySkies]

I'll have to catch everyone and take photos. I am loving just watching them. They eat, scratch, nap, repeat. Love it.

 

[shelbear81]

Have you candled? It's best not to touch them until after day 5 especially with detached air cells. But I'd go ahead and put the turner on and give them a chance. Those first few days are very crucial. That is pretty awful that they sat outside in the heat for so long. Wow, the PO can really mess things up. So sorry about that. It doesn't sound good, but you never know! You could be surprised. If any do make it, be sure to keep a good eye on how the air cells are growing --it's going to be even more important that you have your humidity low to begin with so they have plenty of air. I had some air cells develop down the side of my eggs even though they were upright because shipped eggs just do all kinds of odd things.

I am on day five and i am going to turn the turner on tonight... I did candle two of the eight eggs and I saw nothing... they looked unfertilized... they weren't trying to do anything... I won't touch any of them again until day 10... i just hope i get a few hatched!! What day do you normally start to see something with silkies??

 

[Lisa Pedro]

I think you said you had hatchery chicks? They are rarely vaulted. Crests do offer some protection for sure.

Yes, they are from Cackle. Good info about the vaulted skulls and crests.
I just took a couple pictures of our babies.



They are only 5 1/2 weeks old and still alittle awkward looking.



And they have gotten baths acouple times already.




Look at that dirty face below! That's our tiny one. Had curled feet when it got here, but I fixed it and it is doing great.
Just can't stay clean, lol.

 

[racuda]

I am on day five and i am going to turn the turner on tonight... I did candle two of the eight eggs and I saw nothing... they looked unfertilized... they weren't trying to do anything... I won't touch any of them again until day 10... i just hope i get a few hatched!! What day do you normally start to see something with silkies??

If I'm impatient, I will candle at day 3. Veins can be seen then.

 

[Hawkeye95]

I am on day five and i am going to turn the turner on tonight... I did candle two of the eight eggs and I saw nothing... they looked unfertilized... they weren't trying to do anything... I won't touch any of them again until day 10... i just hope i get a few hatched!! What day do you normally start to see something with silkies??

they could have been cooked in the heat. Those will look unfertile. But give them a chance. I can usually see veins by Day 5, but you really have to know what you are looking for and have a high powered light. You should be able to see something by Day 10.

Yes, they are from Cackle. Good info about the vaulted skulls and crests.
I just took a couple pictures of our babies.



They are only 5 1/2 weeks old and still alittle awkward looking.



And they have gotten baths acouple times already.




Look at that dirty face below! That's our tiny one. Had curled feet when it got here, but I fixed it and it is doing great.
Just can't stay clean, lol.

Very cute!! This one above looks like it might be starting to develop a cross beak. Just keep an eye on him. Even if he does develop a cross beak or a twist, he will be just fine!! They need the feed bowl to always be full, but they get along great. Looks like you are going to really be enjoying some fluff soon when they get older! I like the adult birds better than the chicks. They really mellow out and start looking really cute.

 

[Lisa Pedro]

X2... this is why I think two of my chicks are boys, and yet show no sign of comb growth. It's just that gut feeling.

Have you candled? It's best not to touch them until after day 5 especially with detached air cells. But I'd go ahead and put the turner on and give them a chance. Those first few days are very crucial. That is pretty awful that they sat outside in the heat for so long. Wow, the PO can really mess things up. So sorry about that. It doesn't sound good, but you never know! You could be surprised. If any do make it, be sure to keep a good eye on how the air cells are growing --it's going to be even more important that you have your humidity low to begin with so they have plenty of air. I had some air cells develop down the side of my eggs even though they were upright because shipped eggs just do all kinds of odd things.

Yes, vaulted and non vaulted are just fine in well bred birds and both are acceptable. Health wise, they are fine, just have to take care they are not being picked on by other birds. Your combs and feet are very important- one of the first things you can see on the bird.

I started out with hatchery silkies-- I just got rid of the last of them a couple weeks ago. None of them had vaulted skulls, so it's unlikely that yours have them. They are cute and sweet, but didn't fit into my breeding program, so I'm not saying get rid of them! I didn't have the room for birds I'm not going to use. And yes, it's best not to pet them on the head (if they are vaulted). It's just a good idea to be very careful with their heads.

WOW!! Gorgeous!!! I love that mask!

I actually was not going to get into Silkies. I posted a picture of them on facebook saying that I had asked Cackle not to include them in my bantam assortment because I was really just after eggs to eat ( though I did think they were cute). And I admit that I called them "Poodle Chickens"! Well my 21 year old son saw that picture of a Silkie and told me I had to get one. So I emailed Cackle and asked them if they could now include them with our shipment and we got 3. So they are supposed to belong to my 3 sons. And they will be pets. But I really liked them too so now I want to get more so Momma can have some, lol. The Silkie thread has been my favorite. I have been bitten by the Silkie Bug!

 

[racuda]

I took some pics today of some of the adults. It was hard to get some of them not panting.

This one is three years old and I hatched her from one of Bobbi Porto's eggs


The buff is one year old and was hatched from one of Sundown Silkie's eggs.

 

[shelbear81]

they could have been cooked in the heat. Those will look unfertile. But give them a chance. I can usually see veins by Day 5, but you really have to know what you are looking for and have a high powered light. You should be able to see something by Day 10.

I have candled other breeds and know what I am looking for, this is just my first experience with silkies and wanted to make sure nothing was different... it sounds kinds stupid now

I guess I am just grasping at straws...

 

[racuda]

I actually was not going to get into Silkies. I posted a picture of them on facebook saying that I had asked Cackle not to include them in my bantam assortment because I was really just after eggs to eat ( though I did think they were cute). And I admit that I called them "Poodle Chickens"! Well my 21 year old son saw that picture of a Silkie and told me I had to get one. So I emailed Cackle and asked them if they could now include them with our shipment and we got 3. So they are supposed to belong to my 3 sons. And they will be pets. But I really liked them too so now I want to get more so Momma can have some, lol. The Silkie thread has been my favorite. I have been bitten by the Silkie Bug!

If you want to get some more, I would like to suggest driving to Lutz Florida to visit Bobbi Porto. She is only a couple of hours from you.

 

[RIRJen]

I took some pics today of some of the adults. It was hard to get some of them not panting.

This one is three years old and I hatched her from one of Bobbi Porto's eggs


The buff is one year old and was hatched from one of Sundown Silkie's eggs.

looooooove these birds!