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
I was looking into the DNA testing, pretty reasonable prices too! If they were snuggling up to me and being nice I'd have them tested so I wouldn't get attached to a cockerel I can't keep, but as is they're just "lawn candy" and want nothing to do with me unless I have grubs lol. I can only hope that thier aloof behavior means I have hens, or at the very least 1 hen! However this seems to be "a rooster year" for me so I'm not getting my hopes up too high either.
I swore one of mine was male.. stood tall, "defended" the flock, was a little mean, but nope.. and she ended up being more snuggly than the others (except my d'uccles, they worship me 🥰)
 
Okay, so I have a question. I had been wanting Silkies forever, this was the year I finally got 3. They are the most aloof, skittish, and they peck like crazy. Did I just get bad breeding or do they take awhile to warm up to you? I've had them since 3 days old and they're 9 weeks now, and I still can't touch them without being pecked.
It does seem to vary alot, they all have different personalities but often their temperament changes with age - some become friendly and others not so much. .. I think genetics do play a part in behaviour though so the parents of your chicks may have similar personalities and pass that on like being skittish - e.g. I would not breed with an aggressive rooster as this may get passed on.
If you keep handling them they should get use to it though.. Maybe if you give them a gentle tap on the head with your finger if they peck you they will learn to not peck you.
 
It does seem to vary alot, they all have different personalities but often their temperament changes with age - some become friendly and others not so much. .. I think genetics do play a part in behaviour though so the parents of your chicks may have similar personalities and pass that on like being skittish - e.g. I would not breed with an aggressive rooster as this may get passed on.
If you keep handling them they should get use to it though.. Maybe if you give them a gentle tap on the head with your finger if they peck you they will learn to not peck you.
I'm tapping back and "squawking" when they get me good lol. So far they don't care. I kind of think one thinks my fingers are giant worms. I'm expanding the run they're in so I can get in there and spend one on one time without them being able to run off to the other side of the yard. Hopefully I just need to put in the time with them. They are in a mixed group of 10 birds so it's hard to single them out and the Brahmas want all the attention!
 
I'm tapping back and "squawking" when they get me good lol. So far they don't care. I kind of think one thinks my fingers are giant worms. I'm expanding the run they're in so I can get in there and spend one on one time without them being able to run off to the other side of the yard. Hopefully I just need to put in the time with them. They are in a mixed group of 10 birds so it's hard to single them out and the Brahmas want all the attention!
Maybe they are in the 'childish' phase 😂 .. I have a loner chick now 14 weeks old that I raised due to mother hen abandoned her ( and 2 others that later died) and she still runs away not wanting to be held... Treats do win them over though 😉
 
Happy May Day!🌸🌺🌼
3 chicks have hatched so far in my staggered hatch. 2 more have internally pipped. Photo shoot my daughter took while I was cleaning their brooder yesterday. 😊
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That’s Hanabi, my lone bantam Cochin survivor from the hatchery chicks.😊
She’s a week older.
Ohhhh i got confused 😆 i thought it just hatched this morning.

My two little ones are getting longer feathers.. the poof is poofing on the polish. I'll post a new pic while the brooder is clean 😆
 
Ohhhh i got confused 😆 i thought it just hatched this morning.

My two little ones are getting longer feathers.. the poof is poofing on the polish. I'll post a new pic while the brooder is clean 😆
I can’t believe how tiny Hanabi is! The other chicks follow her around and chirp loudly if I take her out.😊
 

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