What do you feed you Silkie Bantam?

[mjisawesome]

I might be getting silkies this weekend and can't seem to get a straight answer on what to feed them. So what do you feed your Silkie Bantam? Details appreciated

 

[Gardeningmama]

Hi. I'm no expert, but I was afraid too when I got my first batch. They are tiny. I gave them the same medicated chick starter as my standard chicks, but I crushed it. I quickly realized that my crushing was useless, they were eating the other chicks food too. I just got two more Splash Silkies 3 days old, and am only feeding medicated chick starter, from my local feed store. Now if I could only keep poo from sticking to those feathered feet...

 

[PoultryGirly]

If they are chicks, feed them medicated chick starter. If grown, you can feed them scratch grains. A better combination for adults would be scratch grains, oyster shell, lay-mor, and grit.

 

[nurse_turtle]

I prefer Purina Medicated Start-N-Grow.

 

[mjisawesome]

I have heard baby powder should help with the poo sticking on thier feet if u rub some on there and brush them through. So u just feed yours regular chick feed to start out with???

 

[Gardeningmama]

I've never heard of that, Thanks! Yes, and the other girl was right about the Purina Start and Grow, medicated. They are fun and quirky. My hubby is building them their own coop. I read that they don't do well with standards because they sometimes don't roost and get pooped on, and I don't want poopy silkies.

 

[mjisawesome]

it's a silkie only coop, you should try the baby powder because it is safe for chickens. oh, and I am going to start out with purena meditcated start and grow. thankyou for the help to help me decide witch kind of feed I need with your expieriences. what type of waterer do you use??

 

[Gardeningmama]

Just your basic cheap jug waterer from the local feed supply store. I think it was all of $3.00. I am getting ready to upgrade to the heavy duty one though, for the coop and run. That one is around $30.00.

 

[mjisawesome]

okay, thankyou!

 

[California_chickie]

I only have bantams, mostly all Silkies and they all start out on medicated (Purina Start N Grow--just like everyone else said) The first couple weeks I make a chick mash 1x a day (medicated & some H20 with a tiny bit of ACV and molasses) to eliminate any pasty butt. It works great for me! Their little fluffy butts don't get pasty at all, and then it's strictly dry medicated so they don't have the runs constantly.
After about 6 weeks I start to mix in about 1/3 organic feed crumbles (that I get at our local feed store---they make their own blend with kelp & extra omegas) so they slowly get off the medicated within 2-3 months, depending on how healthy they are---then strictly organic crumble feed my hens will eat anything though-- they even steal the corn cobs we leave outside for the squirrels!