SILKIES ~ Updated pics on page17

[19hhbelgian]

I have been spending as much time with my little one as I can. I will sit in the coop while they are out playing during the day, and just be there. I also pick her

up and let her sit on my lap. When she calms down, I let her go back to playing... It's her reward for being good. She's getting better, but has not been as quick to be my friend as my EE was. Here's a pic of Splish Splash, my girl

silkie

 

[artsyrobin]

she's beautiful! sounds like you are on the right track- they are such individuals!

 

[m2wandc]

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yeah, I will sit on the floor with them and let them come for a meal worm and then they skit off...they will come semi-close and grab the worm and off they go...luckily they don't go off too far, so they aren't THAT affraid, but they aren't winning my heart with their lack of loving behavior...the buff orpington is by far the favorite still because she loves to be picked up and held and pet and she loves the kids, the silkies want nothing to do with the kids at all....and I've done the same 'personal attention' for all the chickens now....

I'm guessing (each day is different depending on their behavior) they will either get with it and get to stay, or they will be rehomed and become someone else's pet. ??? It's up to them....

 

[GAchick]

One of the five silkies I got from mypetchicken last Tuesday is not doing well. I've given poly-vi-sol (no iron) to the little darlin', and am dipping her beak in water, and making a mash of the chick starter to encourage him/her to eat... (s)he is getting weaker, and weaker... The others are responding well to being held. They will drift off to sleep after a few minutes in a warm hand...

 

[Gonzo]

those pics with the kids are too cute!

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[allmypeeps]

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...I'd say too soon to tell, but you never know- mine's comb shot up out of nowhere. Its a waiting game with these silkies....
I was so surprised when that thing popped up on his head! I swore he was a girl- so did everyone else!!!

hopefully you get what you want in the end!!!

 

[allmypeeps]

I was told by everyone to get a silkie rather than any other breed because they were the BEST for pets.

I find mine is rather quiet and calm compared to my bonkerz light brahma, but he is very aloof still....he wont voluntarily follow me unless I have a treat or the other chick is following me.

I only have 2 chicks and the silkie will follow the light brahma chick EVERYWHERE and shreek loudly if she is out of his site. He will still avoid my hand if I want to pick him up, BUT once I pick him up he is fine. He just sits there peacefully then falls asleep....
whereas the light brahma chick, who is outgoing, follows me everywhere and flying up on my head etc etc, will run, screach and flap crazily if go to pick her up. (??!!??)

I think chickens go thru phases. They will be friendly but 'flighty' for a period. I find when they 'grow up' they calm back down again.
I think maybe when they are little they don't have great memories or something, or maybe their fight or flight instinct is really really high because of their size and vulnerablility. I thinks its just nature for some of them to be a little timid when young.

I'm sure they will grow out of it- but in the meantime you want to imprint on them as much as possible. ALWAYS bring a treat with you when you walk by them- so every time they see you its a posative experience they will look forward to again...Possibely pick them up and THEN treat them....

Its instinct to take food and 'run off' with it...so that 'no one else' snatches the food right out of their beaks- because they WILL! lol.

Hopefully your birds will mellow out a little more and more as they mature.

good luck.
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[suebee]

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How is your little sick one doing? I hope it gets better, could be just dehydrated.

 

[m2wandc]

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Not really...

I'm thinking we have to rehome them...I would keep them regardless of the roo/pullet part, because they are such a pair, they love and adore one another...the two are for sure a PAIR MADE IN HEAVEN ...but we have been working on intergrating the two silkies with the two other pullet chicks (a buff orp and a barred rock) and it's not going well at all...the BR just zones in on the silkies and pecks and chases and pecks and chases and doesn't give them a break...even when the silkies aren't anywhere near by

She chases them until they hide in a corner somewhere that she can't reach them...but if they come out from hiding, she runs across the run and pecks at them...it's horrid to watch...I can't watch it!

 

[artsyrobin]

my little spike is not doing well, yesterday he became uncoordinated and by today cannot walk, just rolls over- i am assuming wryneck and treating him with vitamins, tonite he began kicking his lets, otherwise is alert, any ideas? little puddin is very upset at being separate, they are always close-