Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Photo this evening of 4 month old Amai putting her wing over little Himawari. I noticed they do this every evening before settling in for the night, was able to get a photo of them this time. This is the same pullet that took care of day old chicks when she was about 3 weeks old. Still a sweetie.View attachment 2770560
View attachment 2770567

So sweet

 

[Lemon-Drop]

Hey there! My silkies are 10 weeks old, any ideas on the genders? The black one is missing a crest, likely due to poor breeding, and has patches of pink skin, but I would love your opinions!

There are 3 total, a buff (with tiny bits of partridge) blue, and black.

The black one also has a bald spot from the others picking on it.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Hey there! My silkies are 10 weeks old, any ideas on the genders? The black one is missing a crest, likely due to poor breeding, and has patches of pink skin, but I would love your opinions!

There are 3 total, a buff (with tiny bits of partridge) blue, and black.

The black one also has a bald spot from the others picking on it.

They are getting big! I posted my opinions in your other thread.

 

[cluckingheck]

Another question: do I need to make Pumpkin her own roost? I have mostly standard size and their roost is 2” wide. I do have some other bantams ( BB Red OEGB, Golden Sebright & Mottled Cochin Bantam ) and all but my cochin have taken to roosting on the edges of the unused nesting boxes which are maybe an inch wide; possibly a half inch. They’re all “teenagers” and not full grown, but would it be a good idea to make a smaller roost for them?

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Another question: do I need to make Pumpkin her own roost? I have mostly standard size and their roost is 2” wide. I do have some other bantams ( BB Red OEGB, Golden Sebright & Mottled Cochin Bantam ) and all but my cochin have taken to roosting on the edges of the unused nesting boxes which are maybe an inch wide; possibly a half inch. They’re all “teenagers” and not full grown, but would it be a good idea to make a smaller roost for them?

I don't think it matters much about width (although giving them options if you like they may decide which ones they prefer) it's the height that can be more difficult - can Pumpkin get up to the roost you have? .. I do have some Silkies that jump up to 30cm to roost but mostly only 10-15cm, esp the older ones in the flock.

 

[cluckingheck]

I don't think it matters much about width (although giving them options if you like they may decide which ones they prefer) it's the height that can be more difficult - can Pumpkin get up to the roost you have? .. I do have some Silkies that jump up to 30cm to roost but mostly only 10-15cm, esp the older ones in the flock.

I really don’t know, honestly. I have a bucket flipped upside-down for my broody’s chicks and they can make it up on the roost by jumping on the bucket first. Pumpkin just might not understand what a roost is yet, idk.

All of my other bantams can get up on the roost just fine, they just prefer sleeping on the unused nesting boxes.

 

[Hinotori]

Most of my silkies prefer to huddle. They have little houses in their covered runs. A few of them like to sleep ON the house in summer. Houses are in covered runs that are greenhouse tarped on all sides come winter. There are a few gaps, but it stays very noticeably warmer than outside in winter in case some of them hop up there.

My large fowl have 2x4s laid flat and screwed to wood sawhorses for roosts. They also have a small piece of plywood across one part because some of the large fowl prefer to cuddle in the big space. When I had a silkie rooster in with them, he'd sleep wherever his favorite hen slept. The wide roosts let him just lay down.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

So i went to buy more litter... ended up buying double the litter AND these

 

[LadiesAndJane]

So i went to buy more litter... ended up buying double the litter AND these
View attachment 2772259

Of course you did!
Hope you end up with some girls this time.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Of course you did!
Hope you end up with some girls this time.

Me too! So there were 6 available, amongst other bantams. I tried to mix them up though, big, small, wide crest, narrow crest... hopefully i get a couple out of it!

I am curious about the roosters though.. whether they are just as loud or perhaps quieter overall than others. I wouldn't mind keeping one if it could be house friendly. I did see some videos about silent polish roosters, but i don't know how rare that is.