silkies

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Tammy Hayes

Tammy Hayes

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I bought 5 white silkies,now can they free range with others? Do you have to separate them from the other chickens? and what are they known for? are they just mainly show chickens?
 
How old are they? if they are grown, you need to quarentine, to make sure they don't have anything to pass to your other chickens, but then you can introduce them.

Silkies are known as very good mothers, that's why I want one or two,
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Silkies are "special" and you may never be able to totally integrate them into a regular flock, they tend to get picked on because of their head feathers, small size and general behavior, so do be prepared if you always have to keep them separate. They also are not the best at free ranging since they don't seem to be very predator aware, especially hawks. Here is a really long Silkie thread you might like https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/297632/silkie-thread Most people seem to have them as pets or as broodies, they are exceptional broodies. You might like to check out the BYC Learning Center, lots of good articles on all aspects of chicken keeping. https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center there is a good article on adding chickens to your flock https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock pretty much you want to wait until the younger ones are about the same size (or as big as they are going to get) before trying to combine them and a long period of time getting to know each other behind wire like dividing the coop or keeping the younger birds in a cage in the coop etc.
 
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Welcome to BYC!

Kelsie really has you on a good path to the links. Most people keep Silkies for pets and entertainment. Some call them Lawn Ornaments. LOL

Good luck with all your poultry projects and welcome to our flock!
 
Silkies are also favorites of children, some will even put up with being dressed up and pushed in a stroller .They are good sports. If they decide to go broody, you can put fertile eggs of any breed under them and they will hatch them. People have even used them to hatch guinea or duck eggs.

If you cut back their crest and beards you will find they are much more active, smarter and aware of their surroundings. People often dismiss them as dumb or spacey when it is because their vision is diminished beneath all the poufy feathers. Polish often have the same problems.

They are more fragile than bigger breeds and suseptable to head injury - so no dropping them from heights, or throwing them skyward to see if they can fly - they don't. Often silkies will sleep in a pile, on the floor in the corner . Their type of feathers do not make good wings for flying but, they can hop and jump high.
 
Welcome to the site. I agree with drumstick diva on the feathers blocking their vision - I'd like a couple silkies and I definitely plan on giving the feathers near their face a good (careful) trim so they can see. As others have mentioned, they're not the best egg layers but are good broodies, which may or may not be an advantage depending on your situation. Good luck with your chicks. :')
 
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