Silkies and corn

[jossanne]

I haven't got any silkies yet, but I'm working towards getting some nice ones from a seller on eBay. I have to get my incubator made and all the kinks worked out before I start ordering the eggs.

But I've read about not giving silkies corn. Why is this? Is it just to keep white silkies pure white? Are there digestive/nutritional issues with silkies and corn?

I was reading the label on my layer feed that we get from the local mill, and corn is the 3rd ingredient on the list. It is 16% protein, with the main protein coming from soybean meal. Do I need to find another source of layer pellets?

 

[willowcol]

Had never heard that but my silkies are all still on starter. Can't wait to hear the answer though.

 

[Teresaann24]

I havent heard anything like that before...I give mine corn it ups their body temps in this cold weather and they could really use it here.

I havent had any problems as long as they have grit there should be no problems in feeding silkies corn.

 

[jossanne]

Our feed recipe has limestone in it, and our feed man says we don't need to supplement with more. We never have with our other chickens (all free-ranged) and we've always got good, strong egg shells.

 

[jossanne]

Here's an article about corn and silkies. I'm not sure if that link will take you directly to the article or if you'll need to scroll down to corn and silkies.

From that, it looks like corn in a diet is fine if it's in a good layer pellet, but not fed too much free choice? Like straight cracked corn or scratch. Am I reading this right?

So does corn turn white silkies yellowish?

 

[therealsilkiechick]

yes, if a silkie has to much corn and it is white it will start looking yellow. i don't know if it is all birds or just silkies but yes i have seen silkies do it, sometimes splash shows it also.

corn as a regular diet only is a big no, no. it is good for treats or while at shows or for winter to add fat. there is not enough nutrition in it to feed any chicken only that. they need a main diet other than corn if u r gonna use scratch ect. i keep mine in winter mths with pellet and scratch.

 

[nzpouter]

corn is use sparingly, fatty food and for non active birds they can create problems.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

White birds can turn yellow when the diet is rich in corn, and black birds can start to get purple sheen from a corn rich diet.

 

[chickenlady]

Yes, as Rodriquezpoultry says, corn can turn feathers a different color if there is too much in the diet. This goes for any chicken though, not just silkies. I have a birchen modern game roo that was affected by too much corn, not by my doing but by his previous owner. He has molted some out but not all yet.

 

[Smoky73]

Too much corn will turn the white birds a yellow or brassy color. It happens most of the time to males than females. I had this problem when I was raising white Ameraucanas so I sold them off. Not always though. Sometimes it also depends on genetics. White silkies that carry a silver gene instead of gold will not be affected by the corn. I have heard Milo can do it too? Or is it millet?
A white silkie chick that has the silver gene will often have a grayish color to their down instead of a yellowish cast.