Silkies...high maintenance?

[ChickensAreSweet]

I would never put a silkie in with a RIR but that's just me.

The foot feathers of my silkies do get dirty. They don't see very well, either and need overhead protection from hawks, IMO. Also they usually don't care for ramps and roosts. They like to sleep on the floor.

There are many people who don't do anything different with their silkies. I even keep mine separate from the other breeds (but I do have them in with some chicks right that need growing out).

I would advise you to get silkies because they are wonderful, but be prepared to give them their own little coop and run away from your RIRs if necessary. (Get more than one, too.)

They will stand in the rain and get soaked, so they need someplace to stand out of the rain besides the coop. They get cold faster than my other chickens.

I love silkies!!!!

Darlings, they are! They are like little dolls.

 

[Zaxby's2]

Quote:
Oh! I wish that would work for me, but I only have standards.

What do you do in the winter time when it rains, do they get cold? I figure they might at my house as suggested above by others. Here in GA we have mild winters, but I fear that if it were to snow and the silkies get wet, we'd be in big trouble.

Now I guess my concern is that the silkies would get cold if they get wet, as my hens like to hang around outside even when it rains, getting muddy and sometimes wet. Oh, and sorry I'm shooting you guys with all the questions, but I'd like silkies and really have no means of keeping them dry.

 

[Chihuahuamom444]

Zaxby's2 :

Quote:
Oh! I wish that would work for me, but I only have standards.

What do you do in the winter time when it rains, do they get cold? I figure they might at my house as suggested above by others. Here in GA we have mild winters, but I fear that if it were to snow and the silkies get wet, we'd be in big trouble.

Now I guess my concern is that the silkies would get cold if they get wet, as my hens like to hang around outside even when it rains, getting muddy and sometimes wet. Oh, and sorry I'm shooting you guys with all the questions, but I'd like silkies and really have no means of keeping them dry.

I live in NY, so VERY cold and LOTS of snow....mine don't really like the snow so they don't walk much in it, but the coop door is opened every day , even when it's very cold and I shovel an area so they will come out and Ive never had any problem. They get wet like everyone else and it doesn't affect them....well, I say wet but when it's really raining they refuse to go out in it, all my chickens not just the silkies. I guess I don't pamper them any more than the rest and they are very sturdy. And as far as mud , my run gets very muddy with all the rain we've had , so their feet get kinda muddy but the next day they are pretty clean.....I say get them and enjoy, they are a wonderful breed and sweet.​

 

[leos-mama]

I have a single silkie in a flock of 6 with 2 pekin bantums, 2 warrens and a bantum leghorn. When they first arrived the silkie made all efforts to be the top of the pecking order but has now been put in her place. She lives quite happily in the roost with all the others but generally goes against all of the reports and the main reason I had a silkie. She is one of the least sociable birds in the coupe, one of the most difficult to handle, though she doesnt get up high she takes off and gets a fair distance when out of the coupe! All that said I truly wouldnt be withour her as she really is a character, and is absolutely to touch and look at. (I do have to give her toes a good clean now and again around her foot feathers!!). She sleeps on the floor not on the roost bars and hasnt layed me a single egg.

The boys love her to bits and shes called pecky as she tries to peck us all the time (has a particular liking for toes in sandals

 

[Zaxby's2]

Thanks for all the replies that helped me make my decision. I've decided to go without the silkies, they seem like they might work for me, but I feel like I would be taking too big a chance.

I had wanted something different to add to my current flock. What about brahmas and cochins? They seem like they would be more hardy, yet still have neat characteristics.

Anyone have experience with them?

 

[SJensen]

Decided against Silkies? Me too -- here's are great photos of high maintenance silkies...http://jensenschickens.blogspot.com/

 

[Zaxby's2]

Does anyone have advice on feather-footed birds like brahmas and cochins? Are they hardy? I did a little research and found out that their feathering can hide parasites and cause problems. Is this true?

 

[BooBear]

My Silkies live in the main coop with my Wyandottes. They pretty much stick to their own group. They sleep on the floor and have issues with the ramp. I do have to trim their crests and beards so that they can see. I have noticed that the trims also boost their confidence. They are special and fun to have; but yes they do need some extra care.

 

[zengrrl]

I was told the main issue with silkies was that they need a dry coop and run. Not an issue for me so I have 5 chicks right now. They are the cutest but there's so many other breeds if you decide to go with something different. Hence the poplularity of chicken math!

 

[mammat]

I have 1 silkie,1 RIR,2 cochins,2 BR,1Buff orphington. Silkie is by far my favorite. She is white and like a little kitten. I give her a bath once a year in the spring. She is broody and sitting on 8 full size chicken eggs at the moment. If you want a friendly chicken go with a silkie. When she is not broody she lays daily. She is 3. She lives in with the big girls without difficulty. I did have another silkie but honestly I think she was retarded from birth. She insisted on cooping up on the floor under the stairs and I think one of the big girls jumped down on her and broke her neck. My current silkie coops up at night with the big girls and often snuggles up under the blue cochins wing when it is cold. If you get one get a pair!

PS Cochins are easy too but they are BIG BIRDS!