When I had my silkies in with turken hens, the turkens taught the silkies how to use it. All my turken's beaks were snipped before I got them and took the the nipples better than the bowls. When I first introduced the silkies without turkens in the pens to it, I took the lead bird, a hen named Momma, and pushed her beak to it to show her how it worked. I think they went a few days without water before they started to really use it, but since they were thirsty, they figured it out.
I just checked Ms. Rumpy's back end and it looks like there is absolutly no tail structure, which leads me to beleive she was either A: attacked and survived with the loss of her tail or B: she is a "freak" and was born with out one. I am leaning more toward the genetic mutation, just for the simple fact that there are feathers growing back there.
A top veiw of her "tail" area, yes, I am AD Air Force, and those are my Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) pants
She isn't my most photogenic hen... she was trying to run away...
Sheila ~ I'm talking to her right now about getting some eggs for my broody hen to sit on. I'm excited and nervous at the same time,.Karen (Catdance) is a way cool person!! I spent several hours over at her place, on Wednesday, picking her brain and checking out all of her beautiful birds. She is an absolute fountain of information and a kind person who is willing to share her experience- both the good and the bad.
I, SOOOO, want her property. It is just lovely out there!!
Sheila
PullorumOk, so I had my silkies tested for the avian influenza and whatever the second test is...? Vet drew blood and did the swab test. Later when I went back to feed my chickens they were all running away from me!Normally they come running TO me, not away from me. lol
TwoThree quick questions:
First, I was planning on selling this 2 1/2 month old I assume is a boy because of his size. I thought he was a dark blue, but when I looked at his tail growing into today, some of the feathers are shiny green. Does this mean he is actually black?
I agree it looks like a boy, the face, crest, and comb growth make it appear very boyish at that age...I believe it is a blue not a black, its not dark enough - blue males also get greenish tints to them, especially the few hard feathers they get in their tails.
Second, how many of you trim the feathers around your silkies' eyes? Several of my girls are having trouble seeing now but I didn't know if it was just normal and if I should leave them be? They seem so puffy already, it is hard to believe they still have more feather tubes growing in!
If you aren't going to show them, trim them up. The beard is more the visual damper than the crest actually. you can trim or pluck, but if your not showing - trim.
And finally, one of my buffs has a darker streaked tail and one has a normal all-buff tail. Is the one with the darker streaked tail a rooster, or can buff females also have that coloration?
that is called "smut" and no its not just in males, females get it to.
Given where you are located and your cold winter months, I wonder if the temperature might freeze the nipple waterers sooner than something with a larger mass? Perhaps think of or prepare a way to keep the tubing (?) warmer, like heat tape??
