Silkies VS Other Chickens (what are the differences)

[Justino]

Quote:

lol

 

[humptydumpty]

justino10 tell how the silkie eggs turn out

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I love the way they look so, I had to have one!

I went through 7 (hatchery one) before I had one who liked to be held!!!

Now about 20 weeks later he is a roo!

 

[fallenweeble]

well, i have a little flock and they are very nice. i don't think the need too many special accomidations except i've read that they need to be kept dry because their feathers don't repel water as well as other chickens' do. there is nothing sadder than a wet silkie!

 

[Kanchii]

Hehe.
Well, the most obvious difference between silkies and other chickens is that they lack the proper structure of feathers, instead producing something like hair. Also, they have black skin and bones, purple combs, and turquoise ear lobes. I think they also have purple or blue feet, but I can't remember.

Personality wise, they tend to be the most laid back and gentle chickens, and love to go broody like crazy.

 

[tx_dane_mom]

Quote:
They have black BONES? Like...if you tried to eat one...instead of white bones they are black? For real?
Kristi

 

[Flufnstuffs~FluffySilkies]

Silkies are Calm, Sweet balls of fluff straight from Heaven sent to steal your heart.
They make wonderful pets and are fun to spoil. I do not let mine out in bad weather.
Afer all I do not want little mud mops. Silkies only need a little extra care. I tell people that
get silkies to just make sure they are only exposed to one of these eliments at a time.

Cold
Wind
Rain~sprinkle

I Never let them out in a down poor or Snow

PLEASE CHECK OUT MY PICTURE TRAIL WITH 400+ Pictures I have also posted some
interesting Silkie information there.
http://www.picturetrail.com/flufnstuffs

For even more Silkie Tips&Facts go to http://www.flufnstuff.com

Our mommy is a red feather duster and we love her very much!

 

[Gonzo the Great]

When I got mine, I was thrown in a free silkie chick (yeah, right, free....uh huh)
Dunno still how to sex them, but he/she is nicknamed Megatron by my kid cuz she's the biggest and was the baddest of the lot. Pecking everyone and giving one my 4 wk RIR a serious black eye (swollen for a few days, but it's she's all good now)

 

[SweetLilRachy00]

Gonzo!~ She's beautiful!!! I love the color! Not really buff is it?

As for the silkie question, I'm still learning.

I just heard (on here yesterday, actually) that they have softer skulls and could be damaged by older chicken pecks. They also can not take flight due to their lack of "real" feathers. My 2 18 weekers can hop suprisingly well though!

Hey Milquetoast! I SO want to see a picture of that! No telling stories without pictures for proof now!!

Also, Silkies are lazy. When mine were babies a couple weeks old. I would find them in their brooder, flat on their stomachs, wings stretched out and legs dangling behind them. It was scarey at first, until I realized how 'normal' this was!

As for the feet color, mine are (black feather) and have black feet. I haven't noticed blue or purple yet.

I think one is a Roo too!!!

DH said, "So now i have to listen to that one at 3am?"

I am hoping that they won't both crow at the same time...maybe since the silkie is so much younger than the roo I have now, there won't be a problem!

 

[SweetLilRachy00]

I have a couple questions though:

What color eggs will Silkies lay?

Do they start laying about normal time as other chickens (20-24 weeks) or do they start later?

How long will they lay before going broody.

And how do you clean the feathers on their feet without hurting them? (They have poop stuck to the feathers)