Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[Mutchi]

Congrats!
Silkies are quite delicate compared to other birds. Be prepared!

I heard they have a higher fatalitie rate than other breeds is that Tru?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Finally finished the Silkie coop yesterday. Had to cover the entire enclosure with hardware cloth, that was a big job! Original intention was to move all the adult Silkies over and then integrate the younger ones with them as well. The silkie hybrids were going to join the layers and I’ve been working on integrating them for the past month. The “look don’t touch” method. Unfortunately one my layer hens viciously attacked Kinoko and I was pretty sure we had lost her.
They were under observation and I turned away for just a moment and that’s all it took. Kinoko was floundering on the ground and was unable to get up. I picked her up and I was sure she had broken her neck. We brought her inside last night and this morning gave her warm mash and Nutradrench and some egg yolk. She was unable to eat or drink anything but later this morning I found her in the cage pecking away slowly at the food. She is now back in with her buddies and is a little unsteady on her feet but I think she will be OK. I think she sustained a head injury.
So after that hard lesson, I decided to just put all the young ones together and they can make their own little flock. Have the two young Silkies and Hanabi in the A-frame inside the new run so they can all get to know each other.
So far the others all seem to be getting along nicely.
So we have 7 in the new coop/run:
Three month old hybrids, Kinoko and Hikari, 9 week old Amai, 6 week old Eko,
then the 3 littles in the A frame: 1 month old Hanabi, 4 week old Yuki and 2 week old Himawari. The littles will come in at night and I have heat in the A frame, mostly for Himawari’s sake.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Finally finished the Silkie coop yesterday. Had to cover the entire enclosure with hardware cloth, that was a big job! Original intention was to move all the adult Silkies over and then integrate the younger ones with them as well. The silkie hybrids were going to join the layers and I’ve been working on integrating them for the past month. The “look don’t touch” method. Unfortunately one my layer hens viciously attacked Kinoko and I was pretty sure we had lost her.
They were under observation and I turned away for just a moment and that’s all it took. Kinoko was floundering on the ground and was unable to get up. I picked her up and I was sure she had broken her neck. We brought her inside last night and this morning gave her warm mash and Nutradrench and some egg yolk. She was unable to eat or drink anything but later this morning I found her in the cage pecking away slowly at the food. She is now back in with her buddies and is a little unsteady on her feet but I think she will be OK. I think she sustained a head injury.
So after that hard lesson, I decided to just put all the young ones together and they can make their own little flock. Have the two young Silkies and Hanabi in the A-frame inside the new run so they can all get to know each other.
So far the others all seem to be getting along nicely.
So we have 7 in the new coop/run:
Three month old hybrids, Kinoko and Hikari, 9 week old Amai, 6 week old Eko,
then the 3 littles in the A frame: 1 month old Hanabi, 4 week old Yuki and 2 week old Himawari. The littles will come in at night and I have heat in the A frame, mostly for Himawari’s sake.View attachment 2684827View attachment 2684828View attachment 2684829View attachment 2684830View attachment 2684831View attachment 2684832View attachment 2684833View attachment 2684834View attachment 2684835View attachment 2684836

Gorgeous pics! Nice setup with the coop!
Sad about Kinoko, hopefully she can make a good recovery

 

[Mariella posey]

What color do you guys thing my little Bean is? I thought it was going to be white with pattern but now it kinda looks like a light Partridge color? I was told its a cream partridge?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Gorgeous pics! Nice setup with the coop!
Sad about Kinoko, hopefully she can make a good recovery

Thanks! I was actually really devastated, I thought I had killed her! My sensible 13-year-old daughter took charge.
I was ready to sell the guilty party, I don’t need any mean hens, but then I realized they’re just acting like chickens act and it was not really her fault either.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

What color do you guys thing my little Bean is? I thought it was going to be white with pattern but now it kinda looks like a light Partridge color? I was told its a cream partridge?

Hard to say but definitely looks like a Partridge. She’ll likely feather in very light and will be gorgeous! Would love to see photos of her when she has all her feathers in.

 

[Mariella posey]

Hard to say but definitely looks like a Partridge. She’ll likely feather in very light and will be gorgeous! Would love to see photos of her when she has all her feathers in.

Its going to be neat to watch it grow out. I really hope it's a girl!

 

[Lauravonsmurf]

Nice set up

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I heard they have a higher fatalitie rate than other breeds is that Tru?

In my experience they're actually quite hardy. However if you put them with aggressive birds or in the wrong conditions, they'll go bottom up quickly

 

[Hinotori]

My silkies have been very hardy here in western Washington. Just have to have fully covered because they will purposely stand out in the rain so they can see better. Mine also will NOT step on snow.

Only times I ever have issues is occasionally with coccidiosis. I keep an eye out and treat them so not a huge issue.