Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Elliemae1984]

I have Silkies who roost and those who don't. It's an individual choice on the bird's part, I think.


Btw, I just gotta say....who doesn't LOVE Silkies? I only have one left. All mine are gone except that one little hen, but seeing pictures of them just warms my heart. I have lots of chickens but Silkies will forever share a special place.

I feel you!

Our old mixed flock had 2 hatchery quality silkies. I thought “oh I don’t need chickens again - save myself the effort”. Then we got 4 silkie chicks….so naturally I need 15 more fluffy butts now LOL

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Thanks for the replies!

We have trimmed the crests and beards of our chicks so I don’t think sight is an issue, but will take a closer look again tomorrow.

I’ve been trying to train them on the ramp but it’s tough. They don’t like *any* treats except mash . But the training has taught them to walk up when placed on the ramp so maybe they are learning just VERY slowly.

I’ve been helping them in and out of the coop each morning and evening but I’m in Canada and it’s getting cold so I’d prefer they learn on their own before winter actually hits.

This is a pic of the ramp…I wonder if they’d be more comfortable using it if it were wider (at least as wide as the coop door)? I also want to properly extend it to ground level so there’s not a big hop up. Our former silkies used it no problem but we didn’t get them as chicks and they were raised with standard sized chickens who taught them to roost, etc. View attachment 3322791

Is it slippering at all? Maybe inbetween the black blocks on the ramp? I use cut down rubber mats on my ramp so they have grip. .. heres pic, I have posted this one recently... one of my Silkies does manage to get herself up on top I have no idea how but she can't get down most of them jump up to the roosts from the ground and not use the ramp. They are raised by mother hens that show them what to do.

 

[chickengr]

my silkies learned to use ramp on their own. the only one that didn't changed her mind when I decided to sell her, lol. she has been using ramp for at least 4-5 days.

 

[Elliemae1984]

Is it slippering at all? Maybe inbetween the black blocks on the ramp? I use cut down rubber mats on my ramp so they have grip. .. heres pic, I have posted this one recently... one of my Silkies does manage to get herself up on top I have no idea how but she can't get down most of them jump up to the roosts from the ground and not use the ramp. They are raised by mother hens that show them what to do.
View attachment 3323115

There’s sand in the paint on the ramp but it could still be too slippery for them. I’m going to look into some rubber (or welcome mat type material) for between the rings and see if that helps!

 

[Obsessed With Silkies]

I had a hen who I thought was afraid of heights because she wouldn't use the ramp and would be the only one of all the silkies who didn't go up on their own. I had to put her up myself MANY times. She eventually got it after what seemed like forever. It may take them a little while to get used to it but especially once they start laying eggs, that should help them get used to the idea of that being their home and where they lay their eggs.

 

[kurby22]

Inky is 3 months old now and sure seems girlie!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

I’d like some opinions please . Is there a chance that silkies will never use a ramp from the coop into the run?

We moved our chicks from the brooder to the coop about 2.5 weeks ago and they still won’t use the ramp out to the run. If I place them on the ramp they’ll go up it, but they won’t get on the ramp themselves. And the only way they go “down” is if they get pushed out by the others (again, not using the ramp, just falling off the side).

Wondering how long to wait for them to learn the ramp before trying an alternative. Are silkies usually ramp adverse?!

I had to carry my little silkie and polkie into the coop for what felt like forever. But eventually they got used to sleeping in the coop and then would cry and try, try, again on their own to join the flock each night. Now they are pros, and they even jump up to sleep on a high platform once they get inside the coop!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

There’s sand in the paint on the ramp but it could still be too slippery for them. I’m going to look into some rubber (or welcome mat type material) for between the rings and see if that helps!

Mine have some little rungs nailed onto the ramp, and my silkie and polkie definitely use them as they hop/fly up.

 

[NinjaGamer2022]

I have a question, I have 2 silkie chicks out of 6 we got a few months ago that do not have walnut combs. They seem to have straight combs. They are from Hoover Hatchery. Does this mean they're no purebred? Can I rightfully sell there eggs when they are old enough as silkie hatching eggs? Thx,

 

[AngBantamLuv]

I have a question, I have 2 silkie chicks out of 6 we got a few months ago that do not have walnut combs. They seem to have straight combs. They are from Hoover Hatchery. Does this mean they're no purebred? Can I rightfully sell there eggs when they are old enough as silkie hatching eggs? Thx,

We have a few people on here who are great with silkie genetics, and as @LadiesAndJane explained to me, it is a legit recessive gene in silkies. I also have a straight comb silkie, from a high end breeder, who breeds only silkies.

What about other indicators? Feet and skin black? Nice fluff? Pics? (We love pics!!)