silkies as layers?

[ninny]

I am trying to stay with one breed of chicken. How well do silkies do as layers?

Also why is it hard to find nice non breaded birds?

 

[ItsSuzzie]

They are a Banty so their eggs are smaller. Mine lays every other day, but I have only one hen.

Good luck to you.

you could PM therealsilkiechick. She is a member here and raises silkies, I am sure she will tell you.

 

[happyhens]

If you want layers, silkies probably aren't your best choice. For maximum egg production, I'd go with Leghorns for white eggs, Red or black sexlinks for brown eggs. Personally I don't like the leghorns, they are very flighty, but they are the best layers for the feed they eat. There are plenty of other breeds that are good layers as well. Here's a list of good brown egg layers: Buff Orpingtons, Rhode Island Reds, New Hampshire Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Black Australorps, Speckled Sussex, Wyandottes, etc.
White egg layers: Brown Leghorn, Anconas, Blue Andalusions, etc.
There are still many more!

 

[Teresaann24]

Silkies lay small eggs and they tend to go broody alot therefore cutting down on laying.

Mine lay every other day I only have 1 who lays everyday and she goes broody after laying about 11 eggs.

 

[shelleyd2008]

One of mine just started laying, at 7 months old. She layed 6 eggs and quit. Definitely not a bird you want to provide food for your family!

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Yeah silkies aren't known to be egg proficient.

The White Leghorns I have are so nervous they lay much less than they should.

My sole Red Star has constantly put out an egg every day since last summer. She's a real working girl.

 

[ninny]

hmm Im going to be breeding them for show. We don't eat that many eggs so even if they only lay every other day that would be fine. I use to raise them years ago . My mom has a thing about eggs not from the store. We couldn't eat them. So i couldn't remember how well they laid.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Silkies as layers!

Mine laid real well for about a month and quit. That was 2 months ago. I got an egg last week and nothing since. They are pretty and they make good broodies but beyond that, you will starve. Don't count on eggs from them. That isn't what they are for. Get a sex link or two and that will feed you guys plenty. Keep the Silkies as wonderful pets and good broody hens.

 

[ninny]

Quote:

 

[mom'sfolly]

I'm going against the trend here. My little silkie hen has been my best winter layer this year; probably 5 eggs a week. They are small, but they cook up just fine. That being said, last summer she was a broody little monster; 5 eggs, broody, no laying, 7 eggs, broody, no laying, 3 eggs....You get the picture. But everyone else was laying in the summer so her eggs weren't missed. I suspect that as soon as the weather is consistently warm, she will be a broody monster again.