South Carolina

[huckleberryfarm]

Usually silkies will start to get streamers by about 4-5 months but not always. I just picked up a pair of white silkies that are 5 months old. Both the breeder and I think one is a boy but no streamers yet. I've had one get them and a comb at 7 months old when he crowed. I believe I've mentioned that rascally Natasha before.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

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Not always. I had one that I thought was streamers but was just her crest got bigger.

Some of mine don't start getting streamers until 6-8 months -

Yes, I know what you mean by the pullets getting their crest in and it throw me too, but the streamers look a little different as they come in a little higher up. Thank goodness mine seem to get them early so I can stop guessing what I have. So far I have not rehomed any pullets but that could happen it sounds. Right now my biggest problem with the silkies is getting all the roos I want to keep in one pen--a few of them just will not stop fighting with each other. I think they have game blood in their background some where. I want to put them all together for the winter to stay warmer but so far I have the hens all together with one roo and all the other roos seperated--but I have a plan....

I did that the other week. It was strange to see them all piled up at night then fighting at the crack of dawn. I have one fella that is separate. He is a big baby and will not take up for himself at all. Gil is a Lover not a Fighter

He is funny cause when I try to put him with others and he runs from them, if they are mean I go in and get him and he snuggles under my chin

All mine are settled down now - took a day but the only ones not in that pen is the one I would show and Gil. The heat did a number on my blacks........washed them out too much. Am hoping they look better after these new feathers come in.

I am considering using a couple of small pens that I have as bachelor pens and moving the boys out of the mix for the winter.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

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I had two do that! I swore one of those was a girl. I was wrong, DD was right.

I have a 2-3 month old now I am watching. She is a cutie now....or He........DD hasn't checked it for me lol

I think the last one hatched - by a broody hen, is a roo just by the way he acts.

 

[huckleberryfarm]

I have coops with many silkie roosters. I've never had any fighting at all. My B/B/S coop probably has 10 roosters in it. They do have a bit of space to roam around so maybe that helps.

I'm having such a dilemma about Thanksgiving. That's the holiday we get together with my husband's family. This year everyone is going to Charlotte. My problem is that I have about 80 chicks in my bathtub, about the same out in the nursery coop and about 50 chicks in the teenager coop. Not to mention all the hatching going on. Every day, I have chicks with issues, dying, water spilling, food messed up... you know how it is if you raise any amount of chicks. I'm not sure I can just take off for two days. My husband wants me to find someone who can come take care of them but I hate to impose on anyone on a holiday even if I knew someone that would want to travel all the way out here to do it.

I keep telling him that I'll just stay here and he can take the kids and go. I know I can find someone to take me in for dinner! He says if I'm not going, he's not going which will of course, make everyone mad at me. I guess I care more about the chicks than he does. I'm not sure how I could work it out for them to be solo for 36-48 hours. Even 24 hours for that matter.

Finally done raining. We didn't get near as much as some of the Upstate but at least it's something!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Thank God! I can deal with the spoon better than the knife...

That is what I said until last year..... it is no fun feedin 100+ chickens in 15" of snow. LOL. Fewer chickens now though........one reason to be glad for predators

I do not want ice. Would hate to step in duck poop on top of ice.

I loved all the snow last year!!! I did not give a hoot that it was deep and it was fine for me to go out and do chores in. I just had paths all over the place. You all may remember these photos. Some of the new members probably haven't seen them though.
I can take the cold but that wind is the total pits.

The hardest part was shoveling the snow out from in front of the barn so the chickens would come out some. They did not venture far and stayed in the coop a good bit doing their nails and gossiping about the roosters.

The ducks were fine with it. I am glad since warm water was not an option for the pools.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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It sounds fine. No blood or not abnormally runny is a good thing. She may be encouraged to eat a bit of mashed up hard boiled egg. I do not scramble mine for the chickens, changes the flavor and nutrients a bit too much. Maybe a bit of oatmeal made with warm water and a touch of yogurt. If you had meal worms I would say offer those.

She's a beauty. DD wanted the white ones we have and they are very nice but I am partial to other colors. I love my boys! (How did I wind up with 3? LOL)

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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That she is! You would be lost without her. She is an incredible person.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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I try to go to bed with the chickens and get up with the chickens but it doesn't work out that way. I dropped our satellite TV so now I can't record my shows and have to stay up and wait for a show to come on. The DVD player is a retard so it doesn't record like it is supposed to and staying up past 10 pm is such a hassle but I gotta watch my shows!
But I am up at 6:30 am and outside at sunrise. I am definitely a morning person.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Not me.....I'm Christmas shopping on Amazon! I'm determined to be done before Thanksgiving.

We have never bought much for Christmas. DD is the only one we usually buy for and now with my parents deceased there isn't any family get together so no Christmas shopping to amount to much here.
I have bought a few things for DD but she never wants much. This year she has asked for Cowboy boots. That requires her going to try them on so I am getting a few small things for surprises. I seldom buy for DH but if I have the money I want to get him a new HD radio/CD player for the bathroom so we do not have to carry it from the kitchen back to the bathroom all the time. And since I have put on so much weight I want my wedding ring resized. That is it for our Christmas buying.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

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Me too - I hardly ever shop at the mall. Hate the crowds. And this year Amazon has some things that are cheaper than Toys R Us. Santa's gonna be happy!

I have an auto payment now so maybe nothing for anyone here........

does not bother me too much - I did have an expensive surprise in mind for DD but, looks like that won't happen. Only people that we buy for is DH's Dad, DD, and DH.
I get myself something too usually LOL

I cook and feed my family....if I can I give a little money to my nieces and nephew. Otherwise, food is enough...we are all together and getting along and that is what counts

ETA: no one on my side of the family is under 14 yrs old. We are getting to old to do anything besides eat LOL

Eating is good and fun!