SILKIES ~ Updated pics on page17

[destiny_56085]

Here's a few of my 6 month old babies from last fall:

 

[destiny_56085]

Silkies usually do not roost. I'm sure there are exceptions to this of course but they are probably are very rare. They huddle together in a corner to sleep at night. About the highest they can get up on is a haybale normally. Silkies can't fly like other breeds. Another great aspect of this breed I guess.

You can keep them separated and penned up with a 4' high fence. You don't have to worry about them crapping all over your saddles in your tack room, car, etc.

 

[m2wandc]

They must 'fly' better when they are teens huh? because tonight one of mine for the first time flew out of it's brooder...I was SHOCKED because none of my chicks have ever done this...the side is pretty tall!

 

[m2wandc]

The chicks need to intergrate with the bigger girls, because the hubby refuses to build anything more...here is their set up:

The chickens will EVENTUALLY free range in this fenced area (it's about 1000 square feet) because if they aren't in that area, the dogs will eat them up

(all four birds will have access to this area during the day and the coop/run at night)

Within this fenced area is their coop/run

Here is a link to my other intergration thread.

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

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

My little black silkie tries to fly out but just can't make it. He does roost though. Him and my black cochin will roost side by side on the apple tree branch I have in their brood thats only three inches off the floor. The buff silkie then huddles in the pellets in front of the two roosting. Mine are 6 wks old.

 

[m2wandc]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

My little black silkie tries to fly out but just can't make it. He does roost though. Him and my black cochin will roost side by side on the apple tree branch I have in their brood thats only three inches off the floor. The buff silkie then huddles in the pellets in front of the two roosting. Mine are 6 wks old.

The one that tried to 'escape' tonight is one I am "wondering" if it's a roo (can you tell at 4 weeks? any signs?) ​

 

[~*Sweet Cheeks*~]

I don't know. Last night I was reading up on silky combs because my buff has a rather large mulberry comb that is irregular in shape. Making me think it's a roo. It started out kind of grayish and flat in color but about 3-4 wks started to grow and then last week at almost 5 wks started to turn dark pink (mulberry).

Found this from one of the googled sites regarding combs:

Silkies have walnut combs that are black to deep mulberry in color and the comb is almost circular in shape on the males while on the females the combs are very small and well formed.

My little black silky still has a flat black comb. My chicks came from the feed store who got them from Privett Hatchery.

Folks here have said that you may be able to tell the sex of hatchery silkies before you can tell with quality breeder birds that can take several months.

 

[m2wandc]

~*Sweet Cheeks*~ :

I don't know. Last night I was reading up on silky combs because my buff has a rather large mulberry comb that is irregular in shape. Making me think it's a roo. It started out kind of grayish and flat in color but about 3-4 wks started to grow and then last week at almost 5 wks started to turn dark pink (mulberry).

Found this from one of the googled sites regarding combs:

Silkies have walnut combs that are black to deep mulberry in color and the comb is almost circular in shape on the males while on the females the combs are very small and well formed.

My little black silky still has a flat black comb. My chicks came from the feed store who got them from Privett Hatchery.

Folks here have said that you may be able to tell the sex of hatchery silkies before you can tell with quality breeder birds that can take several months.

I got mine at a local farm supply store and I'm 99% sure they get their birds from Privett...so we might have relatives LOL

The comb that is visable on the blue/black one is straight so far...(this is the one I was wondering if it's a roo)

You can't see a comb on the partiridge one...

If I have only 1 roo in the lot, then I might be able to convince hubby to keep a roo if it's crow is not at 4am...if it stays quiet until at least 6:30 it will be fine! LOL​

 

[firedove]

Quote:
Sizzles are Silkie/Frizzle crosses. As I understand it most Frizzles are Cochins. I suppose it might be possible to create a Frizzled EE using Cochins, EEs, and a couple of generations. If the EEs are not frizzled though, and your Sizzles aren't frizzled, then your chickens are not Sizzles.

I just got my first Silkie on Saturday, a buff pullet. I skipped the chick part and got a pullet who had just started to lay. I wanted to be sure I'd have a hen since I wanted an incubator, not another roo. Anyways, "Fuzz Bucket" is such a love!

She wants to be picked up every time I go in to see her! She laid an egg the morning after I got her which is pretty good since she spent about 5 or 6 hours in various vehicles and several hours in a cage at a chickenstock the previous day. She laid 3 eggs for me between Sunday and Wednesday. I'm currently keeping her in a large rabbit cage alone because I want her to brood her own clutch of eggs before I go putting her in to meet the rest of the flock. She is not broody just yet but I was told by her breeder that she was constantly broody before she left there so it should only be a matter of time. I don't have any pics of her yet but she is super pretty and super soft.

For a long time I didn't want to get a Silkie, not sure why, I guess I thought they were just weird. I finally decided to get one because my other 2 bantams weren't going broody for me and I wanted a natural incubator. The really funny thing though was that Sunday morning both bantams went broody, as if they were afraid that they would be totally replaced

They must have heard me talking about the new girl coming to town.

When "Fuzz Bucket" is finished with her own eggs (and hopefully chicks) I will integrate her into the flock at large. I'm going to be introducing a standard Wyandotte pullet at the same time and I hope to get the Wyandotte and Silkie bonded together before putting them into the flock. That way the big Wyandotte pullet can protect the little Silkie hen. She should do fine though since my roo has a soft spot for little hens. His favorite hen is my tiny Mille Fleur D'Uccle "S'Mores". Also if my Mille can make it in that coop, the Silkie will do just fine. "S'Mores" makes "Fuzz Bucket" look big!

 

[BBK]

I'm new here and don't own a silkie, but i think i would love to. I have a few questions:

colors, if you have a buff and a black mix, would it be a splash? Or are splashes certain colors? White/black or white/blue. now saying this, is the white predominate on all splashes?

Partridge? more brown than the other color/s.

Show girl vs. silkies? what's the different? Does this have something to do with the top hat?

and can a hen brood with other silkies in the same coop? you say they don't roost, just hundle, so do they all hundle/brood together.

And i'm in upstate NY zone 5, hard winters sometimes, will they do well here? I don't want to hurt them. Would i have to bag balm them in the winter to protect their combs and feet?

and size of coop? for 6?

thanks for all info.

Melinda