Silkie thread!

[bantamgirl]

around what age do silkies start to lay. mine is 5 1/2 months.
I got her some new friends and they are all going to go in the coop when it's done.

 

[chickendales]

around what age do silkies start to lay. mine is 5 1/2 months.
I got her some new friends and they are all going to go in the coop when it's done.

could be 6 months could be 8 mon could be 10mons ive had silkies be year before they layed egg

 

[littlecritters]

I have one Silkie who was free ranging with some larger birds that I hatched at the same time. He/she did fine and seemed to have a couple "friends" and wal always the first one back in the coop, but I took the Silkie as a babysitter for some new chicks I hatched last week. Such a gentle bird. Lets the babies sit underneath. I'll probably leave the Silkie with these babies for a long time.
I let my Silkies and Cochins free range, but they tend to stay in the front flower beds. But I have to always go retrieve one or two Silkies at chicken bedtime. That said, the Silkie tractor should be done soon, and I'm going to start keeping them in a tractor for their safety.
But I have one Silkie I am wondering about...I think it's a roo, and that bird pecked me quite hard this morning, hard enough to leave a mark! I was reaching in ti change the feeder, and I was kind of close to him with my hand. I don't think this is typical, right? My kids handle these birds all the time. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't allow them to hold the birds so much. Next time he pecks me, I'm grabbing him up and carrying him around a bit, but he caught me off guard because I totally didn't expect such behavior from a Silkie. I am right to be concerned, correct?

I think the silkie boys go through stages. Ours reached a point where they began to react more quickly if startled or if not expecting to be picked up. Once, i was pecked hard by one of our youngsters and he hasn't done it since then. I don't think he saw me reaching for him. Now, I make a point of picking up and holding each of the 3 boys on a daily basis. Generally, our boys are vey nice.

 

[NookNook01]

I have one Silkie who was free ranging with some larger birds that I hatched at the same time. He/she did fine and seemed to have a couple "friends" and wal always the first one back in the coop, but I took the Silkie as a babysitter for some new chicks I hatched last week. Such a gentle bird. Lets the babies sit underneath. I'll probably leave the Silkie with these babies for a long time.
I let my Silkies and Cochins free range, but they tend to stay in the front flower beds. But I have to always go retrieve one or two Silkies at chicken bedtime. That said, the Silkie tractor should be done soon, and I'm going to start keeping them in a tractor for their safety.
But I have one Silkie I am wondering about...I think it's a roo, and that bird pecked me quite hard this morning, hard enough to leave a mark! I was reaching in ti change the feeder, and I was kind of close to him with my hand. I don't think this is typical, right? My kids handle these birds all the time. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't allow them to hold the birds so much. Next time he pecks me, I'm grabbing him up and carrying him around a bit, but he caught me off guard because I totally didn't expect such behavior from a Silkie. I am right to be concerned, correct?

Be sure it wasn't a misunderstanding...he may have thought you were moving in with a treat or perhaps you had a ring on that interested him???? It's not typical of my Silkie Roo...but he's such a Goof that I've pretty much decided he's got bad aim!! haaaa Keep an eye on him for sure... and be sure he knows you're the Boss or it's off to Freezer Camp~!~

~DD~

 

[NookNook01]

around what age do silkies start to lay. mine is 5 1/2 months.
I got her some new friends and they are all going to go in the coop when it's done.

Are they squatting yet??? That's a sure sign, you'll be expecting eggs within a couple weeks of the Squat...Good Luck it'll Happen!!!

 

[peepblessed]

I have one Silkie who was free ranging with some larger birds that I hatched at the same time. He/she did fine and seemed to have a couple "friends" and wal always the first one back in the coop, but I took the Silkie as a babysitter for some new chicks I hatched last week. Such a gentle bird. Lets the babies sit underneath. I'll probably leave the Silkie with these babies for a long time.
I let my Silkies and Cochins free range, but they tend to stay in the front flower beds. But I have to always go retrieve one or two Silkies at chicken bedtime. That said, the Silkie tractor should be done soon, and I'm going to start keeping them in a tractor for their safety.
But I have one Silkie I am wondering about...I think it's a roo, and that bird pecked me quite hard this morning, hard enough to leave a mark! I was reaching in ti change the feeder, and I was kind of close to him with my hand. I don't think this is typical, right? My kids handle these birds all the time. Now I'm wondering if I shouldn't allow them to hold the birds so much. Next time he pecks me, I'm grabbing him up and carrying him around a bit, but he caught me off guard because I totally didn't expect such behavior from a Silkie. I am right to be concerned, correct?

In my experience this is quite common. I hold them down so they can't move to show my dominance. After 3 or 4 of these cessions they stop that behavior. I occasionally comes back and I repeat the discipline.

 

[Kaybug137]

I let my two little silkie chicks free range one at a time, and my rooster chased him/her, they all wanted to peck the lil guy, what am I going to do when it's time to move them out to the coop? Any tips and tricks to keep them from being mean?

Also, I am trying to figure out weather their both girls, or both boys, or girl or boy. I am shooting for two girls. My rooster is a RIR btw. and I can't get anyone to build a new coop and I can't do it on my own due to back problems. Anything I can do???

 

[tiki244]

I let my two little silkie chicks free range one at a time, and my rooster chased him/her, they all wanted to peck the lil guy, what am I going to do when it's time to move them out to the coop? Any tips and tricks to keep them from being mean? 

Also, I am trying to figure out weather their both girls, or both boys, or girl or boy. I am shooting for two girls. My rooster is a RIR btw. and I can't get anyone to build a new coop and I can't do it on my own due to back problems. Anything I can do???

I don't know. Just be careful that the roo doesnt peck them in the head because it is easy for them to get head injuries.

My white silkie rooster used to peck me when he was little(6 months). I think it was his hairdo though. I would reach in to feed him and I think he didn't see me coming till my hand was right in front of him. I try talking to them now before I put my hand in to get the bowl and it seems to work a lot better so they aren't startled.

Mocha, my girl that I separate, has always been a challenge. I have rescued her so many times it is scary. She just wanders off and gets lost in the high grass away from the others. And I have never let her out when I was inside. When I first got her she was about 5 months. I had her along with my other silkies out on the edge of the lawn . I was also doing things outside so wasn't watching them constantly. When I turned around I saw her in the middle of the lawn in wide open space and she looked dead. I ran to her and here she had walked half way across the lawn and then decided to take a nap. Hawk bait!. App! Scary! I like to dig her worms every once in a while.When she hears the shovel she gets excited. I put the worm right in front of her and have to keep everyone away while she pecks at it for about 5 minutes before she actually gets it. Seems like forever.

 

[KMHunter]

Quote: I do this too. I also pick him up whenever I go in the pen. I ant to make sure he always knows who's boss as he gets older. I don't think I would let a young child play with my cockerel at this time. I don't think he would actually attack, but if they went to pick him up, I think he would bite. And I would feel bad.
I know Silkies are notoriously docile, but when I went to visit Karen Larsen, most of her young cockerels were full of attitude. Not mean, but just showing us what "big boys" they are. I think she said if they full on attack, then it's a problem. I guess it's just a personal decision on what you will allow and what you can't tolerate. I know where my limits are and will cull any rooster that decides to attack me.

 

[Sanna]

Great shot!

around what age do silkies start to lay. mine is 5 1/2 months.
I got her some new friends and they are all going to go in the coop when it's done.

Mine seem to start at 10 months and they're not all related. 10 must be the magic number around here for some strange reason.

Congrats on the new friends! You'll be addicted in no time.