The Lone Silkie. Help!!

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hello BYC folk!
So, I have had a single silkie for about 2 1/2-3 1/2 weeks now. I have had 0 luck finding her a best friend. Ive been looking for silkies for weeks now!! I just can't find any! If any of ya'll have some or know where to get some, PLEASE let me know!! I'm near Atlanta, GA. Please help me if you can!

 

[PlymouthRockBBredSebright]

Hi! Sorry, I do not have any, but try this: https://www.purelypoultry.com/silkie-bantams-p-426.html

If you are willing to start from scratch, than these are high quality chicks, and they ship nationwide. Don't worry about the chick being shipped, I have had 8 shipped chicks and they were fine. If you do ship, I would recommend getting two birds.

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

Hi! Sorry, I do not have any, but try this: https://www.purelypoultry.com/silkie-bantams-p-426.html

If you are willing to start from scratch, than these are high quality chicks, and they ship nationwide. Don't worry about the chick being shipped, I have had 8 shipped chicks and they were fine. If you do ship, I would recommend getting two birds.

Thank you so much!

 

[keesmom]

If you are going to start with chicks you may want to consider sexed silkie chicks from MPC. Unless you want cockerels.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi! Sorry, I do not have any, but try this: https://www.purelypoultry.com/silkie-bantams-p-426.html

If you are willing to start from scratch, than these are high quality chicks, and they ship nationwide. Don't worry about the chick being shipped, I have had 8 shipped chicks and they were fine. If you do ship, I would recommend getting two birds.

There is nothing HIGH quality about purely poultry. As far as I know they are simply a drop shipper. It's great that you had good luck with them though! All shipping experiences will be different. I have gotten shipments with 100% fatality, 50% fatality, or only 1 or two. Very rarely do I get 100% survival rate in shipping. But my route is a very difficult one.

Tons of feed stores are getting chicks in right now. I suggest getting over your Silkie quest and picking up a friend of another breed that you will enjoy.

How did you end up with a single Silkie? (I have to before, it happens... so I'm just curious) And how do you know it's female? What is her age?

My pet Chicken offers sexed Silkies chicks... they just don't guarantee
color and some of their stock is non bearded.

I also have had a lot of luck finding Silkies and others on Craigslist farm and garden section. Which happens to be where I sell mine... which are not hatchery stock, all bearded, and parent stock culled for faults. They are however sold out months in advance most of the time but there is occasion that a surprise gal needs a new home.

Hope your Silkie finds a friend soon!

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

There is nothing HIGH quality about purely poultry. As far as I know they are simply a drop shipper. It's great that you had good luck with them though! All shipping experiences will be different. I have gotten shipments with 100% fatality, 50% fatality, or only 1 or two. Very rarely do I get 100% survival rate in shipping. But my route is a very difficult one.

Tons of feed stores are getting chicks in right now. I suggest getting over your Silkie quest and picking up a friend of another breed that you will enjoy.

How did you end up with a single Silkie? (I have to before, it happens... so I'm just curious) And how do you know it's female? What is her age?

My pet Chicken offers sexed Silkies chicks... they just don't guarantee
color and some of their stock is non bearded.

I also have had a lot of luck finding Silkies and others on Craigslist farm and garden section. Which happens to be where I sell mine... which are not hatchery stock, all bearded, and parent stock culled for faults. They are however sold out months in advance most of the time but there is occasion that a surprise gal needs a new home.

Hope your Silkie finds a friend soon!

I had 2 but the second one died about a month ago!

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

There is nothing HIGH quality about purely poultry. As far as I know they are simply a drop shipper. It's great that you had good luck with them though! All shipping experiences will be different. I have gotten shipments with 100% fatality, 50% fatality, or only 1 or two. Very rarely do I get 100% survival rate in shipping. But my route is a very difficult one.

Tons of feed stores are getting chicks in right now. I suggest getting over your Silkie quest and picking up a friend of another breed that you will enjoy.

How did you end up with a single Silkie? (I have to before, it happens... so I'm just curious) And how do you know it's female? What is her age?

My pet Chicken offers sexed Silkies chicks... they just don't guarantee
color and some of their stock is non bearded.

I also have had a lot of luck finding Silkies and others on Craigslist farm and garden section. Which happens to be where I sell mine... which are not hatchery stock, all bearded, and parent stock culled for faults. They are however sold out months in advance most of the time but there is occasion that a surprise gal needs a new home.

Hope your Silkie finds a friend soon!

Is there another breed that you recommend?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So sorry for your loss of her friend.

I don't know if a chick will be your best choice if she is older. But getting older birds would *possibly* expose her to unknown (even to the seller because it may not have presented yet) disease. Sometimes you do have to take risk though. It's always a very personal decision.

I really like the Easter Eggers a lot. But they have been a real mixed bag of personality as far as friendly verses flighty towards humans. However, they have not been bullies ever... so far. If you have room, you might consider getting 2 friends (even 2 different breeds just for personal variety and fun), in case of any other incident.

If speckled Sussex are available, I've heard good things and they are very beautiful. Though I am growing some out with intention of breeding next year, not enough experience yet to say they are actually great or not. My Silkies all bunked and ranged with my large fowl, until I added roosters to the mix when I separated so they wouldn't be accidentally injured by mating.

I think you can try any breed that you are interested in. Reds (production, RIR, maybe sexlinks and New Hampshire's as well) are about the only ones I will recommend avoiding with your Silkie as they do tend a little more towards the bully side.

For now, I'm sure she will appreciate having chats with you!

Good luck finding her some fantastic flock mates!

 

[4 Georgia Hens]

So sorry for your loss of her friend.

I don't know if a chick will be your best choice if she is older. But getting older birds would *possibly* expose her to unknown (even to the seller because it may not have presented yet) disease. Sometimes you do have to take risk though. It's always a very personal decision.

I really like the Easter Eggers a lot. But they have been a real mixed bag of personality as far as friendly verses flighty towards humans. However, they have not been bullies ever... so far. If you have room, you might consider getting 2 friends (even 2 different breeds just for personal variety and fun), in case of any other incident.

If speckled Sussex are available, I've heard good things and they are very beautiful. Though I am growing some out with intention of breeding next year, not enough experience yet to say they are actually great or not. My Silkies all bunked and ranged with my large fowl, until I added roosters to the mix when I separated so they wouldn't be accidentally injured by mating.

I think you can try any breed that you are interested in. Reds (production, RIR, maybe sexlinks and New Hampshire's as well) are about the only ones I will recommend avoiding with your Silkie as they do tend a little more towards the bully side.

For now, I'm sure she will appreciate having chats with you!

Good luck finding her some fantastic flock mates!

Thank you for the advice!

 

[AllenK RGV]

Might try https://atlanta.craigslist.org/search/sss?query=silkie+chickens&sort=rel I found several there in your area.