SILKIES ~ Updated pics on page17

[m2wandc]

Quote:
Me...

My silkies are starting to grow on me, but I'm on the fence on what to do with them...keep them or rehome...teetering on the fence

I thought I'd fall in love instantly from all the silkie love on here, but it didn't happen...the silkies (at least mine are too skittish)

Here are the two that are slowly growing on me and if someone could shed some light on intergrating them (I posted this question) with my big chicks safely and happily, then I'd fall in love with them more so... but I keep a semi distance because I worry that I'll have to rehome them?

 

[wanda047]

I wish I had an answer for you (mixing the younger chicks with the older bunch). I tried once... and as soon as one of the older hens jumped on one of my babies... they were out of there!

I just keep building new coops.

With every new batch of chicks I get... yep... I just build another coop to meet their individual needs. My breeding pair of buff silkies are in a small coop and run designed just for them... small and cozy. My two older Polish breeding pair as also in a small coop and run I designed just for them. I spent little money... all scrap materials and left overs from larger projects.

I will soon be building a larger coop for my 10 EE chicks. For me it's a lot of fun and I don't mind the building or work. My husband seems totally intrigued that I take on these challenges and helps me when I run into a problem I can't solve.

As for "liking" your silkies, I think your biggest issue is that you are not allowing yourself to bond with them. You stated yourself that you are "keeping a distance." Give them a chance. They are always skiddish at this age. Give them some more time... and allow yourself to enjoy them.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Like others have said, I wish I was closer. I'd take them off your hands

I finally fell in love with my little babies and now want more. They are still very skittish (7 weeks old) but there is just something very endearing about them. I love their little squealy chirps and fuzziness. I think the evil Silkie addiction has found me!

As far as mixing, I don't have an answer either. My banties are separated right now from my standard hens but I'm hoping when the banties are full size, they will mix in. As far as mixing my bantie ages, I just threw them together and let them sort it out, which they did.

 

[walbarbsa]

I love silkies -- they're great broodies and moms plus they're just so darn cute and perky.

When I introduced mine to the big girls, I put them in a smaller cage on legs in the same yard as the others. Kept them in for a while and then opened the door and allowed them to roam as they wanted. They'd return to the smaller cage at night....

Because they'd seen the bigger girls and vice versa, it all worked out. However, the cochin roosters will mate with them....you can't even see their little bodies under the roosters but it all works out! Now I have cochin/silkie crosses and they, too, are as feisty as can be....they're mid-sized -- a nice combination of both breeds.

 

[CallyB57]

This is crazy and illogical - I have six Silkies - 1 white, 3 blues, 2 buffs, and paid a good bit for the buffs. I don't know why I love my Silkies, but maybe it's because they make me laugh and smile a lot. I originally thought they would successfully hatch eggs for my other chickens and I didn't want an incubator to do it. There is something 'not normal' about a baby chick hatching out and having no soft, warm mommy to care for it. I didn't buy them for a breakfast egg supply, as I have standard chickens for that. I do know one thing - I love them and I am VERY protective of them and I suppose if the only reason I keep them is to love them, then in my mind that's a good enough reason.

 

[sarahsark]

Hi, I don't mean to take over the thread, I am sorry, but since this is a Silkie info thread I was hoping someone might help me out a little, too.

I am acquiring a couple little Silkies some time this month (haven't hatched out yet!) and the breeder said they will be "splash" color and it was very pretty. I said, "Oh, that's GREAT, yeah!" but really I was like...

...

I don't care what color they are, really, but if anybody has any pics of a splash colored Silkie, can you share please?

And m2wandc, I understand how you feel, not bonding with your chicks.

I went through the same exact thing with my Buff hens and while I have grown to care about them, they remain skittish and I remain somewhat distant.

It's ok, though. We've worked out a plan... I feed them, shelter them, provide water for them, give them dust baths and treats all the time, cook for them, clean their crap up, clean their eight individual little houses and coup that my hubby and I spent an entire weekend building with our bare hands, and spend all kinds of money on them and they... take it.

But, that's the way it goes, I guess.

Good luck with the chicks and I'm sure you will make the right decision for them and as well as yourself.

 

[m2wandc]

Quote:
You and I are in contact within that other thread and I sent you a PM...so we'll go thru this together

 

[allmypeeps]

I am new to silkies too!

I just got a young one 4 days ago...a partridge silkie. She was brown and 'furry' so we named her 'Monkie', as in monkey- LOL

I chose a silkie because I wanted a docile, quiet, portable, bird that would be a good candidate for a 'therapy pet' because one of my goals is to bring it to visit children/adults that could benefit from animal interaction...

They are soft and fluffy but are nothing like your adverage dog/cat therapy pets so I am very excited to watch her grow and see if it all works out!

here is my husband with Monkie and Nellie (our light brahma- who on the other hand will be HUMUNGUS!

)

YES!! THATS POO ON HIS SHIRT!!! LOL thats when you KNOW you love your birds!

e

 

[allmypeeps]

THIS IS A SPLASH SILKIE:

e

 

[m2wandc]

I just updated my steps to intergrate the silkies into the coop and so far so good...my heart is opening up to the silkies

Not fully there but I see a light of hope

Photos will follow later tonight on that thread for those keeping tabs on the 'unwanted silkies' LOL...I'm not THAT bad of a mommie I promise!!!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=192942