Silkie thread!

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Depends onhow protective Mama is. Years ago I had a feed store buff orp hatch and raise silkie babies. Huge size difference! and that was a feed store quality bird.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Hi, can anyone tell me how old silkies are when they start laying? I have 4 silkie hens... Definately girls. The oldest is now 11 months old, the other 3 are 9 months old and we still haven't had any eggs. Its getting to winter here now so should I just assume I'm not getting any eggs until next spring now? I've had all these since they were 5weeks old so the eggs are a long time coming. X

Well, Are you SURE they are pullets and not cockerels? Mine usually start laying by about 9 months, but I've had a couple go over a year before they laid their first egg.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: http://chla.library.cornell.edu/cgi...ode=2837819:5&frm=frameset&view=image&seq=173

 

[NookNook01]

I have a quick question which may or may not have been asked before. I'm getting 20 chicks shipped to me next week and I have 3 20 week old silkies who are extremely docile. I was wondering if I can put the babies in there with the silkies. Will they want to be moms to these new babies? My silkies were too docile to move to the laying pen with the big girls and roosters so I kept them in the baby pen. Two of the silkies are girls and one is a rooster. Do I have any chance of letting the babies stay with the silkies or will something horrible happen? All 3 are so docile... what do you think?

I wouldn't risk it!!! When I tried to combine mine this spring there was a bit of curious pecking, I was worried the bigs would inadvertently injure the littles....

 

[sheeshshe]

Along with the feed talk, I tried putting grower or starter in there with the whole group, but my hens eggs were so soft, they were constantly breaking, despite all the oyster shells I put in there. I feel bad that the rooster and the 3 month old chicks are eating the layer pellets, but I don't know what else to do. I don't get why she doesn't eat the oyster shells!

 

[Fancychooklady]

None of my chooks will eat layer pellets. Through the winter I add turkey grower crumble to their free range mix. They just want table scraps , all day.

 

[PaintedFeathers]

Calcium is only needed once the girls start laying. Medicated starter feed is fine when they are small. Just don't switch to layer pellets when they get older - they need more protein - and less calcium.

I think they are supposed to start around 6-7 months. Your 11 month old may just be a slow starter. Are you SURE its a girl? That seems an awfully long time - unless they are hiding them somewhere.

I have put babies in with the bigger ones - but not until the babies were 3 weeks old. Your Silkies are still in your brooder? I would put them together and see what they do. If they make a warning noise or attack the babies then put the babies in a separate area. Who knows - it might trigger the mommy button... My rooster likes three of the chicks - but he picks on the 4th one. Some boys will also "mother" babies. You just have to try it and see - but stick around because they will tell you yes or no in the first few minutes.

i've had them start over a year.

Along with the feed talk, I tried putting grower or starter in there with the whole group, but my hens eggs were so soft, they were constantly breaking, despite all the oyster shells I put in there. I feel bad that the rooster and the 3 month old chicks are eating the layer pellets, but I don't know what else to do. I don't get why she doesn't eat the oyster shells!

Check out Nutrena feather fixer =) I mix it in with gamebird starter. That is what I have started giving to all my birds, juvenile and adult. I want to make an oyster shell dispenser too but this seems to work for the time being.

 

[DeannaA]

I asked the lady I got my eggs from. She breeds blue with splash. Out of 8 chicks that hatched from those eggs, 7 are pale grey and one very very dark grey. Are the pale grey blue or splash? At what age can I tell? Why are they all coming out the same color? Is there something about the genetics of the other colors that makes them weak, maybe not strong enough to hatch? I know this sounds crazy, I just can't think why only the dark ones don't make it. The only dark one that hatched, died a few days after hatching. It wouldn't eat.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Along with the feed talk, I tried putting grower or starter in there with the whole group, but my hens eggs were so soft, they were constantly breaking, despite all the oyster shells I put in there. I feel bad that the rooster and the 3 month old chicks are eating the layer pellets, but I don't know what else to do. I don't get why she doesn't eat the oyster shells!

Add apple cider vinegar to the water, and give her a calcium supplement separately? If she still has soft shells, Nekton K should help.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
The feather fixer has the same amount of calcium as a layer, so it isn't any better for the chicks and rooster.