Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[AngBantamLuv]

Sorry for just now getting back to you! I was so disappointed whenever the whole batch died. I have a lady who is wanting 200 silkie chicks from me and that was her batch. 9 in total died and I felt so bad to have to tell her.
You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but how much do you charge for your silkies? I charge $5 and I feel like it's cheap but yet expensive at the same time.

I pay that at the feed store, where they buy them in bulk from a hatchery and what you get is what you get. I would think $5 would be the bare minimum, but personally, if someone wants my time and attention and equipment, i would charge a bit more, and if i were getting that service from someone, I'd be happy to pay!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Sorry for just now getting back to you! I was so disappointed whenever the whole batch died. I have a lady who is wanting 200 silkie chicks from me and that was her batch. 9 in total died and I felt so bad to have to tell her.
You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, but how much do you charge for your silkies? I charge $5 and I feel like it's cheap but yet expensive at the same time.

Well I live in Hawaii, everything costs more here, even chickens! I charged $20 for purebred, unsexed, better then hatchery quality this past Spring from eggs I had imported from Alabama, but I also vaccinated for Mareks and gave a small starter bag of organic feed and lots of personal attention.
I am charging $10 for my upcoming crosses and will likely charge $15 for purebred that I plan to breed in the Spring. I would give a little bit of discount for anyone who buys more than 3-4 at a time.
Price would also depend on the market in your area. For example is there a hatchery near by selling chicks for $4? Are there other breeders in your area. Things like that. ☺

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Awwww the little cochin girls were watching the big girls intently today.. I put a little dog bowl with some food and calcium for the big girls (they are eating the stupid wheat litter I bought! ugh) and they were eating so nicely together. It almost seems like the little girls really want to get in there with them. I might just wash the sand and put them in the extension part, so they are even closer together.. then when i take the divider out, they all technically have been living in the same coop together, just different ends of the same space.

I am CONSIDERING sending my silkies to the lady that got my little chicks a couple months back. I will see how spacing goes. They are super well behaved, but not really all that cuddly compared to the D'Uccles and Cochins. I will only send them over there if space becomes an issue and everyone is on top of each other. She has an outdoor coop with a small flock, but she lets the bantams come in to play in the house. I am hoping to get the coop issue settled, then get more chicken diapers. As long as they can all get outside for some exercise (in the living room), I don't think space is as much of a prob. HOWEVER... my daughter has zero interest, and these were supposed to be her pets. So this is all going to fall on me.

Same thing happened to me! My 12 year helps me when I ask her to, but it has become my project mostly! ☺

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Same thing happened to me! My 12 year helps me when I ask her to, but it has become my project mostly! ☺

I've recently given her a few chores related to them.. scooping their litter in the afternoon, and talking to them when they do the bok bok chorus to calm them down. I can hear her talking to them, so i think she is learning to take care and ACTUALLY care.. i was talking to her earlier, and she was like, sorry mommy, but the chickens are calling me

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I am so close to finishing that silkie article I promised! I got really busy for a while, but now I am happy to say that it is almost finished. But one question, would you say silkies are more work than other breeds? And if so, why?
In my experience, they may be by a little, but not much (just crest trimming, and they are sometimes soaked from rain or snow).

I don't find them more work, I have standard size birds, too. My run is covered, so they do not seem to get very muddy/dirty. I do trim their nails, which they seem to enjoy, they remind me of old ladies getting a pedicure and close their eyes and seem very relaxed. I also trim/file their beaks as needed. They do not care for this, though! I also trim the feathers around the eyes at the same time. I find these things to be a two person job though. So, maybe more work in that I have to get someone to help me.
So overall I think they are the same work as any other chicken. ☺

 

[PioneerChicks]

I don't find them more work, I have standard size birds, too. My run is covered, so they do not seem to get very muddy/dirty. I do trim their nails, which they seem to enjoy, they remind me of old ladies getting a pedicure and close their eyes and seem very relaxed. I also trim/file their beaks as needed. They do not care for this, though! I also trim the feathers around the eyes at the same time. I find these things to be a two person job though. So, maybe more work in that I have to get someone to help me.
So overall I think they are the same work as any other chicken. ☺

Thank you for the info!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

I pay that at the feed store, where they buy them in bulk from a hatchery and what you get is what you get. I would think $5 would be the bare minimum, but personally, if someone wants my time and attention and equipment, i would charge a bit more, and if i were getting that service from someone, I'd be happy to pay!

Thanks for the advice! I'm scared to charge more because most people around my area can get some for free. I'm itching to hatch out more silkies but it's just too cold and my customer wants to wait.

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Well I live in Hawaii, everything costs more here, even chickens! I charged $20 for purebred, unsexed, better then hatchery quality this past Spring from eggs I had imported from Alabama, but I also vaccinated for Mareks and gave a small starter bag of organic feed and lots of personal attention.
I am charging $10 for my upcoming crosses and will likely charge $15 for purebred that I plan to breed in the Spring. I would give a little bit of discount for anyone who buys more than 3-4 at a time.
Price would also depend on the market in your area. For example is there a hatchery near by selling chicks for $4? Are there other breeders in your area. Things like that. ☺

Yes, that's true. The price is where I struggle most because most people can get some cheap. I'm itching to hatch out some more silkies but my customer wants to wait until spring.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Thanks for the advice! I'm scared to charge more because most people around my area can get some for free. I'm itching to hatch out more silkies but it's just too cold and my customer wants to wait.

There's no way they are getting silkies for free.. they need to pay. Even if you look online, most places are still sold out, or sell out as soon as they post. I was so lucky to get mine, i had no idea until after the fact!

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

There's no way they are getting silkies for free.. they need to pay. Even if you look online, most places are still sold out, or sell out as soon as they post. I was so lucky to get mine, i had no idea until after the fact!

Lol, sorry. I meant free chickens. Most people would prefer layers instead of silkies.