Silkies - They’re simply SPECTACULAR!

[LadiesAndJane]

Hello Silkie friends! Looks like I have quite a bit of catching up to do again! We’re on page 1000 now, can you guys believe it?!
Hatched 9 chicks two days ago and decided to keep this very pale blue one and had to keep one more to keep it company! You all know how that goes…
Decided for the first time ever to see if I can get a broody to raise them! Little Himawari here has been broody for over two months so we thought we would give it a try. Looks like she’s doing well so far. She seemed a bit confused at first and the chicks also weren’t quite sure what to make of her, but I think it’s going to work out. A few photos attached!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

That's very young to be correct on sexes.

This is a pullet at 5, 6, and 7 weeks. The 6 weeks has one of her brothers in it. He's the lighter chick.

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Her at 12 weeks
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These are fantastic photos!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Here are a few shots of my 10 week old blue splash fuzzlingsView attachment 3156644View attachment 3156646... I seriously need to get them into the turnout pen, but it's occupied by my BCM hen and her 3 little booplings. (I converted a baby crib into an outside brooder that sits under the eave on the front deck.View attachment 3156636View attachment 3156640

Beautiful!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Here are mine!! I got some not to long ago!! View attachment 3157192View attachment 3157193View attachment 3157194View attachment 3157195
And here’s my show “girl” Silkie!!View attachment 3157196

Gorgeous birds! I love the pale ones, reminds me of peaches and cream!

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Hello Silkie friends! Looks like I have quite a bit of catching up to do again! We’re on page 1000 now, can you guys believe it?!
Hatched 9 chicks two days ago and decided to keep this very pale blue one and had to keep one more to keep it company! You all know how that goes…
Decided for the first time ever to see if I can get a broody to raise them! Little Himawari here has been broody for over two months so we thought we would give it a try. Looks like she’s doing well so far. She seemed a bit confused at first and the chicks also weren’t quite sure what to make of her, but I think it’s going to work out. A few photos attached!View attachment 3163402View attachment 3163401View attachment 3163400View attachment 3163399View attachment 3163398

What a sweet mama!! She's doing a great job.. and what beautiful babies!!

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Pics today of some of my fluffies... Finally a day with no rain

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Looks like a glorious day there where you are!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Hello Silkie friends! Looks like I have quite a bit of catching up to do again! We’re on page 1000 now, can you guys believe it?!
Hatched 9 chicks two days ago and decided to keep this very pale blue one and had to keep one more to keep it company! You all know how that goes…
Decided for the first time ever to see if I can get a broody to raise them! Little Himawari here has been broody for over two months so we thought we would give it a try. Looks like she’s doing well so far. She seemed a bit confused at first and the chicks also weren’t quite sure what to make of her, but I think it’s going to work out. A few photos attached!View attachment 3163402View attachment 3163401View attachment 3163400View attachment 3163399View attachment 3163398

So precious! Himawari is doing well!
I wanna do that once Daisy and Lizzie get older!!!

 

[Gammas Bearded Babies]

Here are mine!! I got some not to long ago!! View attachment 3157192View attachment 3157193View attachment 3157194View attachment 3157195
And here’s my show “girl” Silkie!!View attachment 3157196

Beautiful babies!!! Luv the creamy ones too....I would have named em peaches n cream @LadiesAndJane
How old is the NN? I bet he's got alot of personality!!!

 

[chickengr]

I took back 1 of my rehomed boys. my friend didn't like him and wanted to sell him. he is a very big chunky boy so he is back home where he is loved and appreciated.

 

[CSolis]

Hello Silkie friends! Looks like I have quite a bit of catching up to do again! We’re on page 1000 now, can you guys believe it?!
Hatched 9 chicks two days ago and decided to keep this very pale blue one and had to keep one more to keep it company! You all know how that goes…
Decided for the first time ever to see if I can get a broody to raise them! Little Himawari here has been broody for over two months so we thought we would give it a try. Looks like she’s doing well so far. She seemed a bit confused at first and the chicks also weren’t quite sure what to make of her, but I think it’s going to work out. A few photos attached!View attachment 3163402View attachment 3163401View attachment 3163400View attachment 3163399View attachment 3163398

Great job! Glad to see things are working out.

As others have mentioned size of the chicks, so I wanted to throw in my 2 cents worth on the subject. In observing chick growth over the last two years, I noticed chicks don't increase in size much until about the 3rd or 4th week.. They are too busy using energy to get wing and tail feathers, followed by body feathers. When the body feathers start coming in, they aren't nearly as long or strong as wing and tail feathers so probably don't take as much energy and nutrition to grow thereby leaving more for body weight and growth.
This year is the first year I've had broody hens finish the job. Something I've noticed about the chicks they are raising is that the chicks are 10x more active than brooder chicks, if not more. All that running around is using up energy and the nutrition they get from approximately the same amount of food (crops can only hold so much, and I doubt digestion increases in speed between the two groups), hence the slower growth of mamma raised babies.
Any ideas on this?