UK Member Please Say HI

[CCUK]

Yeah I've only got silkies

At least you shouldn't really be needing to incubate, with silkies being good broodies. My brahmas tend to be regular broodies but not when I need to hatch eggs!

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Yeah I've only got silkies

Any other animals?

We have dogs, cats, ferrets, quail & Harry horse

 

[504707]

I just had to cull one of the quails. First time. It was easier than I thought it would be, although the twitches are real.
It's just a shame because said quail wouldn't stop being aggressive and turned on the male and her fellow girls. Pecked one to bare skull...

 

[Alan461]

Hi Alan. Good to see rosemary is doing well and having fine dining! My warrens and ex batts started to stop laying from about 2.5yrs so she's done well to lay as long as she has! I wouldn't worry to much about her beak unless she is having trouble eating and drinking. Some of mine were unable a terrible state but straightened up, sort of! They do look a bit goofy, but it's what makes them so endearing! Her claws look fine. She will wear them down when she's scratching about in the garden. If she's definitely stopped laying you may want to changeover feed from layers to something with less calcium or give her grit but no oystershell. If she's not laying the extra calcium can cause problems. 2.5yrs out the battery is such a good achievement. I hope mine can last for that.

Good to hear all is well, many thanks

 

[JemimaP]

I just had to cull one of the quails. First time. It was easier than I thought it would be, although the twitches are real.
It's just a shame because said quail wouldn't stop being aggressive and turned on the male and her fellow girls. Pecked one to bare skull...

Oh no! That sounds so sad! Hope you’re ok?

 

[JemimaP]

My new girls took themselves to bed in the coop at 9pm. I thought maybe they were hiding from the rain and would come back out but still no sign of them at 9:30 so I’ve closed their door for the night. Is it too early?
They’re only 7 weeks so I don’t know if that’s it for the day or if they were just having a ‘nap’ and were planning on coming back out??

 

[504707]

Oh no! That sounds so sad! Hope you’re ok?

Yeah I am ok. They were destined to get the chop at the end of summer anyway as they are approaching the end of laying. It's just a shame one went bonkers.

The pecked one is recovering, eating and drinking ok, but I am unsure whether to wait until the end of summer or just wait until the smalls start laying....

 

[504707]

My new girls took themselves to bed in the coop at 9pm. I thought maybe they were hiding from the rain and would come back out but still no sign of them at 9:30 so I’ve closed their door for the night. Is it too early?
They’re only 7 weeks so I don’t know if that’s it for the day or if they were just having a ‘nap’ and were planning on coming back out??

Mine go to bed at around 8:30 atm. I would just close the door when either you go to bed or at dusk. Do you have predators around?

 

[JemimaP]

Yes we live next to fields and a nature reserve that has lots of foxes.
My girls are very quiet this morning. They got up and had breakfast but they’ve spent the majority of the morning chilling under the coop. It’s quite cold today so I don’t think they’re looking for shade.
Yesterday when I brought them home in the afternoon they were really active, climbing the ladder up to the roosts I built and playing on the swing. Every time I came to see them they came running over all inquisitive.
Are they usually quieter in the mornings?

 

[Warriorgal]

Hey guys I'm Darren from Teesside.
I have recently found a love for silkies such a lovely and peaceful flock I have at the moment

Hi Darren Welcome. Nice to meet more silkie enthusiasts. Have you been keeping silkies for long as you have a few.

View attachment 1415589 View attachment 1415590 Hi Folks,
Just sayin’ hello, Rosemary’s fine still living in the house, doesn’t lay anymore, stable at 1.9 kilos and four years old (that’s 2.5 years free from factory life)
Currently likes banana, avocado peanut butter and mackrel fillets.
and a quick question, do their beaks and claws need trimming?
Rosemarys beak wasn’t in great shape when she came from BHWT it’s sort of worn in the centre and is longer at the sides, her claws are also quite long.
Apologies in advance for the state of her feet, she’s never been one for clean feet.
What to do?

Hiya Alan and Rosemary. I have been reading up recently about grooming birds and apparently their beak and claws can be trimmed, Im sure there must be more in depth info somewhere about that. Ive not checked my chickens claws though, I guess its something we dont really think of.