Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Magicfly candler. Rechargeable. The egg was a dark green egg, too!

Wish I could get one in Australia. I couldn't find anything similar except corded so can't take it to the coop.

 

[Hinotori]

Any small 500+ lumen flashlight has no issue candling most eggs. I usually just wrap my forefinger and thumb around the lip to form a seal and hold the flashlight.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

So sorry to hear this. Did you candle the eggs? If there is life signs may be worth putting them in an incubator and see if they develop to day 7 at least.

I borrowed a headlamp that was bright and got 1 egg from under her and it was full of veins so thats a good sign! What will I see if the chick is dead from her not sitting on the eggs at day 4? Blood ring?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I borrowed a headlamp that was bright and got 1 egg from under her and it was full of veins so thats a good sign! What will I see if the chick is dead from her not sitting on the eggs at day 4? Blood ring?

Yay!
You may see a blood ring, but not necessarily right away. The veins may just pull away from view and just become sort of an unorganized clump.

 

[thanai]

Wow... I see I'm late to the silkie party! I recently got 3 silkies, 1 boy + 2 girls, and I've loved them since day 1.

Galadriel

Gandalf

Goose

My cockerel is the middle picture.

I'm really looking forward to hatching out some silkies in the spring! I really want to go the natural way and let momma hatch her own chicks. I want to hatch pure silkies and silkie-polish crosses. What do you all think?
Anyway, sorry for being so late to the silkie party! Looking forward to learning lots.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Wow... I see I'm late to the silkie party! I recently got 3 silkies, 1 boy + 2 girls, and I've loved them since day 1.
View attachment 2477556
Galadriel
View attachment 2477558
Gandalf
View attachment 2477564
Goose

My cockerel is the middle picture.

I'm really looking forward to hatching out some silkies in the spring! I really want to go the natural way and let momma hatch her own chicks. I want to hatch pure silkies and silkie-polish crosses. What do you all think?
Anyway, sorry for being so late to the silkie party! Looking forward to learning lots.

Welcome! Go for it, hatching by hen or incubator rocks!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Wow... I see I'm late to the silkie party! I recently got 3 silkies, 1 boy + 2 girls, and I've loved them since day 1.
View attachment 2477556
Galadriel
View attachment 2477558
Gandalf
View attachment 2477564
Goose

My cockerel is the middle picture.

I'm really looking forward to hatching out some silkies in the spring! I really want to go the natural way and let momma hatch her own chicks. I want to hatch pure silkies and silkie-polish crosses. What do you all think?
Anyway, sorry for being so late to the silkie party! Looking forward to learning lots.

Welcome! Never too late to join the party! You have lovely birds. Love the LOTR names.

 

[LynnaePB]

Thanks for the info. I have hatched (well my broodies have) quite a few chicks now and I've never seen a single comb before but have seen a couple of red combs. I want to stick to pure Silkie so I am not breeding with the red comb Silkies. Is the single comb not pure silkie? .. And by any chance could this be a little cockerel do you think? (I know extremely early so probably a far shot at a guess) as they are 5.5 weeks old and some have raised combs showing already I'm kinda guessing those are going to be little cockerels. I could take some more pics tomorrow if that might help? ... But I know its waaayy too early to make a good guess!

I'm so sorry I completely lost track of the thread and didn't realize till now! I wouldn't have been much help with the guessing anyway, though yeah I'd guess the ones with the raised combs already showing would be the ones more likely to be boys. I seem to recall that your line has some impressive sized combs even in the girls though so I'd probably be really bad at guessing with your cuties!

 

[thanai]

Welcome! Go for it, hatching by hen or incubator rocks!

Thanks for the lovely welcome. Looking forward to discussing all things silkie!

 

[LynnaePB]

Wow... I see I'm late to the silkie party! I recently got 3 silkies, 1 boy + 2 girls, and I've loved them since day 1.
View attachment 2477556
Galadriel
View attachment 2477558
Gandalf
View attachment 2477564
Goose

My cockerel is the middle picture.

I'm really looking forward to hatching out some silkies in the spring! I really want to go the natural way and let momma hatch her own chicks. I want to hatch pure silkies and silkie-polish crosses. What do you all think?
Anyway, sorry for being so late to the silkie party! Looking forward to learning lots.

Welcome! Sounds like a lot of fun! I've never actually let my silkie hens hatch eggs naturally but I have hatched some silkie polish crosses in the past. I think they turned out pretty neat, definitely a cute cross in my opinion.

I managed to dig out some old pictures of them.

Dad

Mom (sorry she's looking a little rough in the photo, I couldn't find a better one of her)

And three of the progeny with mom in the background

Anyway good luck with your spring hatching! Your little silkies are just adorable!