Talk me out of a Silkie, please

[SunnyAlberta]

For now I can only house 2 or 3 hens. Four will be my max. My intention is to have egg producers. I think I've selected a Buff Orpington and a Wyandotte. I could squeeze in a Silkie. I've been offered one at an awesome price. Do I need a Silkie? Is there an advantage of having another body to warm up a coop? I know they are pretty but Hubby thinks that Silkies are "useless" for us. Thoughts?

 

[Me & Jack]

For now I can only house 2 or 3 hens. Four will be my max. My intention is to have egg producers. I think I've selected a Buff Orpington and a Wyandotte. I could squeeze in a Silkie. I've been offered one at an awesome price. Do I need a Silkie? Is there an advantage of having another body to warm up a coop? I know they are pretty but Hubby thinks that Silkies are "useless" for us. Thoughts?

Hey "near Lethridge" gal!! Having lived in Lethbridge as a child I recall we had some rather chilly winters (although the occasional Chinook made it bearable). Silkies would do fine in cold weather with proper shelter, free from drafts. They make great broodies, so if you want to hatch out some eggs from your other breeds they'd be a big help. They do tend to get picked on by larger breeds, so that's something to worry about, though. You probably won't want to eat any offspring -- that black/bluish skin is tough to stomach, so this would simply be eye candy. If you don't mind paying for another mouth to feed I say go for it. Just be warned: Silkies are addicting!!! LOL

Is the Pilsner Brewery still open, by any chance? I remember driving by it as a child and thinking it looked cool.

 

[a123andpoof]

Personally my silkies did not do well with standard size girls. They were picked on alot. As for egg production I get between 4 and 5 a week in the spring - fall. I got zip in the winter.

 

[Billy-jean]

Hey "near Lethridge" gal!! Having lived in Lethbridge as a child I recall we had some rather chilly winters (although the occasional Chinook made it bearable). Silkies would do fine in cold weather with proper shelter, free from drafts. They make great broodies, so if you want to hatch out some eggs from your other breeds they'd be a big help. They do tend to get picked on by larger breeds, so that's something to worry about, though. You probably won't want to eat any offspring -- that black/bluish skin is tough to stomach, so this would simply be eye candy. If you don't mind paying for another mouth to feed I say go for it. Just be warned: Silkies are addicting!!! LOL

Is the Pilsner Brewery still open, by any chance? I remember driving by it as a child and thinking it looked cool.

Silkies are definitely addicting! I now have only silkies,whites,blues and partridge..and they are by far the BEST chickens I have ever had,and make fabulous pets,and great eye candy!! I thoroughly enjoy this breed )

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Sorry for not coming back to my thread. For some reason I thought no one had replied. Silly me!

Is the Pilsner Brewery still open, by any chance? I remember driving by it as a child and thinking it looked cool.

Lethbridge Pil was bought by Molson... and then shut down in the early 90s. There is a garden there now, on the side of the hill. I think the space needs a chicken coop.

http://www.worldweb.com/Uploads/PhotoGallery/file-10-7239-file_image.jpg

Personally my silkies did not do well with standard size girls. They were picked on alot. As for egg production I get between 4 and 5 a week in the spring - fall. I got zip in the winter.

Thanks for the warning. I wouldn't want birds that don't produce in the winter.

 

[srmoss]

i got 3 sussex buffs and 2 lil white silkies and sometimes the silkie eggs are bigger than the buff eggs. they lay regular are great as brooders and seem quite tame, they like to be stroked well mine do. your choice at the end of the day but they are no trouble and easy on the eye
.

 

[SunnyAlberta]

Beeliz and Srmoss, your birds are adorable!

 

[srmoss]

just a quick update on my silkie mums the chicks are a few weeks old now and we moved them back with the buffs. they seem fine and are very inquizative lil buggers. pic was taken at 1 week old.