Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

Trying to get a head-count on silkie lovers...

  • ME! - I like silkies!

    Votes: 826 96.2%
  • ^

    Votes: 98 11.4%

  • Total voters
    859
Little Sumire just passed. She passed comfortable snuggled up to the teddy bear. She had a bad start, odds were against her. She will be buried under the orange tree next to the other chicks that have died in the past.😞
I’m so sorry! Thank you for showing her love and compassion on her short trip to earth. One of my three passed on Monday. To say I’m bummed is an understatement
 
I was looking at my little angels tonight... 😂 I swear they are the messiest chicks I've ever seen! Anyways, the chick with the weepy eye is still weepy. The feed store has Terramycin on backorder so I had to settle on Theracyn opthamologic gel. I've used it twice now after washing with warm water. I think the poor baby is wishing for my violent death... She is clearly not a fan of the doctoring process.

On another note, I thought my caramel colored chick was going to be a buff colored Silkie. But I noticed today that she has some gray banding on her wings,just a bit. Maybe that means she will be a partridge?

Aww good luck with your little ones eye! It's no fun when they don't appreciate a treatment but at least you know you are doing what is best. :)

The little caramel colored chick could still be a buff. It's actually really common to have a bit of black or blue etc on the wing feathers and or tail as buff is actually often partridge based in silkies. The non buff color coming through is often referred to as "smut". It'll be interesting to see how she/he develops though! :D

My 4 month old cockerel (yes I'll have to admit it, even though it doesn't totally seem like it) is so much smaller then my other one, smaller overall and comb size, why is this?- some sort of bantem gene made it small or is it an abnormality that I shouldn't allow to breed?
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Hmmm is your little cockerel significantly lighter than the others as well? I've got some less fluffy silkies that look small but when you pick them up aren't actually any smaller than the others.

I have had a couple very small girls that ended up developing bad wry tail (scoliosis). I hadn't thought to breed them since they had the wry tail issue but it would be nice to know if the extra small ones shouldn't be bred even if otherwise healthy. 🤔

Dear silkie lovers, is there a silkie then & now thread?! I thought someone following this thread might know as I tried looking with no luck

I don't think I've ever seen one but I could have missed it. It sounds like it would be a fun thread though! :)
 
Aww good luck with your little ones eye! It's no fun when they don't appreciate a treatment but at least you know you are doing what is best. :)

The little caramel colored chick could still be a buff. It's actually really common to have a bit of black or blue etc on the wing feathers and or tail as buff is actually often partridge based in silkies. The non buff color coming through is often referred to as "smut". It'll be interesting to see how she/he develops though! :D



Hmmm is your little cockerel significantly lighter than the others as well? I've got some less fluffy silkies that look small but when you pick them up aren't actually any smaller than the others.

I have had a couple very small girls that ended up developing bad wry tail (scoliosis). I hadn't thought to breed them since they had the wry tail issue but it would be nice to know if the extra small ones shouldn't be bred even if otherwise healthy. 🤔



I don't think I've ever seen one but I could have missed it. It sounds like it would be a fun thread though! :)
Yes he's alot less fluffy, hardly any fluffy crest - he's the only one that can see properly :lol: .. what does wry tail look like? Does it need treatment? .. I don't think I would breed him since he has a small comb and not as fluffy. I might rehome him if his tail doesn't need treatment.
 
I was looking at my little angels tonight... 😂 I swear they are the messiest chicks I've ever seen! Anyways, the chick with the weepy eye is still weepy. The feed store has Terramycin on backorder so I had to settle on Theracyn opthamologic gel. I've used it twice now after washing with warm water. I think the poor baby is wishing for my violent death... She is clearly not a fan of the doctoring process.

On another note, I thought my caramel colored chick was going to be a buff colored Silkie. But I noticed today that she has some gray banding on her wings,just a bit. Maybe that means she will be a partridge?
I hope your little one with the eye issue feels better, soon ❤️
My 8 week old chick still hasn't integrated into the main flock, still on its own since the other chick died.
It was attacked by a bird today, lucky I was outside nearby and ran it off.. chick fine. But rooster did nothing, no alarm or anything! I'm guessing it was because the chick isn't part of the flock? Poor little thing :(
.. At least it's good at getting up high or into little spots to run from the others pecking it ..
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So sorry to hear your little chick is alone/not integrating :( Are the others not allowing him/her to integrate or is he/she isolating on purpose? Such a cutie, sitting up there in the plants :love
I’m so sorry! Thank you for showing her love and compassion on her short trip to earth. One of my three passed on Monday. To say I’m bummed is an understatement
I'm so sorry you lost one of your three gorgeous babies - sending hugs :hugs
 
I’m so sorry! Thank you for showing her love and compassion on her short trip to earth. One of my three passed on Monday. To say I’m bummed is an understatement
Thank you, sometimes they just do not make it. I am so sorry you lost one of yours. So easy to get attached to these sweet creatures. 😞
 
Yes he's alot less fluffy, hardly any fluffy crest - he's the only one that can see properly :lol: .. what does wry tail look like? Does it need treatment? .. I don't think I would breed him since he has a small comb and not as fluffy. I might rehome him if his tail doesn't need treatment.

Wry tail is basically scoliosis in chickens. Usually you can see when they have it because the tail will tilt to one side. In more severe cases the whole spine is involved not just the end/tail part. Here is one of my extra small girls that had it badly. She had a very crooked spine and you could feel a hump in her back besides the obviously crooked tail. I don't think there is really anything you can do for them. Even my most severely affected seemed to do alright they just can't get around as effectively (uneven gate, can't walk very fast etc). From my experience they do seem to tend to be at the bottom of the pecking order when it's severe. The ones with a mild case don't seem to be any worse off for it. It pops up in my flock and from others eggs I've hatched more often then I'd like. I avoid breeding any that appear to have it but you can get it popping up even if the parents don't display it. I think it's a bit complicated genetically and needs multiple factors to line up for it to present itself.

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Your boy doesn't show any indications of having wry tail from what I can see so I wouldn't worry about it. :)
 
Update on the Fab Four! They are now moved out to the patio brooder during the day. They have access to heat if they need it but don’t spend a lot of time under there. They are now between 2 and 1/2 to 4 and 1/2 weeks of age. They will be moving out to the tractor in a few more weeks. This is set up right next to the coop so the older chickens can see them.
Most of the photos are of Kinoko as she is the friendliest. Love her little half Polish hairdo sprouting in!🥰
On another note, have another set of eggs arriving tomorrow by mail half lavender and half paint, hopefully some will hatch and survive this go round!😊
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The little caramel colored chick could still be a buff. It's actually really common to have a bit of black or blue etc on the wing feathers and or tail as buff is actually often partridge based in silkies. The non buff color coming through is often referred to as "smut". It'll be interesting to see how she/he develops though! :D

This is the chick in question.... Interesting coloring on her wings....

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