Does this sound like I’ve been sold a male or should I be concerned about a health condition? Cutest thing, friendly, and needs attention! Along the way, they get tons of new feathers and will shed their old ones, as well as leave a lot of bird dander all over the place. If you mean like when someone is cutting up a frying chicken, it would be the same as any other chicken--wings, thighs, breast, drumsticks. This disease first appears in the form of poor laying skills and a weak chicken. Location of missing feathers and possible causes Head – others chickens pecking, other hens asserting dominance, molting, lice Chest -broody hen, molting Pregnant bunnies or brooding hens can be aggressive, and both will become territorial when raising young. Smaller kids can hold the chicken against their chest and just hold their legs, but it leaves the chicken's beak awfully close to the child's face. These birds look like rabbits or balls of fluff. I'm getting 3 red silkies this evening ... i'm excited ;-), They are sooooo adorable!!! As for house chickens, it's actually a pretty popular thing, especially with Silkies since so many creatures like to eat them. If they hurt the girls it is usually by scrapping their sides and cutting them. Goniodes dissimilis, G. gigas, G. hologaster, and G. abdominalis: These are referred to as the "brown chicken louse". A Blue Ribbon for this young silkie pair. You might not notice much difference for several months. Then they will grow back in the same sequence. Silkies have feathers that are different from most chickens. Why is he not crowing? This article is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge. These hairs are called barbs, and in most feathers, the barbs look neat and straight. backyardchickencoops on November 05, 2009: Sweet Tweets nice, I have to say I have seen pictures of these types of chickens before, but I never knew the name of the breed. If you look really closely, you can see that these barbs branch into things called barbules. Their heads are usually silver with their hackle’s feathers silver laced. I really like the way these chickens look, I guess this breed of chicken makes for a great house pet. Just remember, usually chicken genders are about 50-50, so if you have four chickens, probably two are pullets and two are cockerels. Also, never drop them onto the ground as this will hurt them. Eggs: Eggs and sometimes the lack of them is diagnostic. Foxes. This is why they are one of the most common chickens for 4-H kids and petting zoos. To contact them write c/o Secretary, Sue Scott: 6 Colville Rd; Yellow Rock, Australia 2777 or email them at silkieclub@optusnet.com.au. Some people even leash-train them. They also have dark, purplish-black combs and wattles. Some, however, are born with fewer toes, or as is often the case, fused or partial toes due to a common genetic mutation. Sometimes it even kills the Silkie. nice lens, I like it, please see my lens and comment if its okay, 'smile'. You can use a mister or a fan, but some people go the extra mile by providing air conditioning in the chicken house. What characteristics do you look for? Lift. The chicks hatch out of their eggs slowly, pecking at the eggshell from inside using a small attachment on their beak called an egg-tooth that falls off a few days later. However, the link is to an "unofficial" page with some useful information about silkie breeders in Australia and the Silkie Club of Australia. They live in the new box for about 6 weeks until they have lots of feathers and can handle cooler temperatures. Question: At what age do Belgian Splash silkies get their spots? More space leads to fewer problems, as cramped birds will pick on each other. Question: What are the causes of vestibular disease in Silkie chickens? You have some great recipes here, information on building a Chicken Coop. They lack the barbicels that keep feathers in that neat, smooth appearance. How aggressive the other breeds are, the birds' individual personalities, and how much room the birds will have all influence whether or not it will be a good situation. I'm not sure if they is the correct name but that's what we called him because he had a bif tuft of feathers on his head and his legs. Alisha Vargas (author) from Reno, Nevada on February 25, 2020: I'm not sure what is causing the problem. Do silkies ever NOT have feathers on their legs? Most breeds do fine with silkies if given enough room to avoid each other. They will produce dust all year long, but there are certain times when they produce more dust than others. Great lens! what is the scale of feed for silkie (age wise). They pin the crest back using a hair tie. I never knew about silkies. They will lose their feathers near their head at first and this will eventually spread down to their tail. It might be a new type or perhaps a mixed breed. I think we can't keep bantams in our city, though, only standard size or bigger. Silkies have feathers growing on their feet. She is looking like a small turkey. The deficiency can cause a chicken to peck excessively at their own preening gland, the feathers around it and feathers of other birds. Pecking, also called picking, is almost always the result of high stress levels. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If we look at a single chicken feather, typically we will find thick hairs growing on either side of the main shaft. As long as food-safe colorings are used, it doesn't hurt the bird and is really fun. Some other peculiar attributes of the Silkie are that it has dark blue (almost black) skin, bones, and blue earlobes! My son found a juvenile chicken/turkey-like bird, alone on the side of the road at night. Another difference is that it's okay, and even preferable, to have a few more roos per hen. The Silkie and Poland Club of Germany Good photos, breeders list, contact information, and lovely sketches. Joining a group allows you to read advice from other silkie owners, lets you know exactly what to expect, and gives you a place to talk about these wonderful little birds. All those three hens was perfectly healthy, night before they whent to the coop happily whith the rest of the flock, my coop is a 8 by 10 all wired , half covered , pedractors proof, and I never have more than five hens whith a rooster in the same coop. Question: What antibiotic ointment can be used in Silkie eyes? They are all called bantams (a term that means "miniature chickens"), and in general, they are between 8-14 inches tall. Feather pecking not only hurts, but denudes skin and can damage flesh. How do chickens look after their feathers? Most chickens will do anything to get a treat, and if that means jumping when you say so or even doing weave poles, the Silkie will soon learn to do it. American Silkie Bantam Discussion Group is a free email list. Question: At what age can you start to determine the sex of a chick? This can trigger the troublemaking peckers in your flock. When the chicks are finally out of their shells, they are left in the incubator until they are dried and fluffy. Males tend to get a comb earlier and be a little more aggressive, but since even adult Silkies don't exhibit those traits as much as other chicken breeds, it can be hard to notice. Oct 9, 2008 These eggs are on the small side because silkies are bantams, but they still taste just as good. Gait, Difficulty walking. Austin area, Texas I don't know, but your question made me think of a little white toy poodle, just back from the groomer, with a bow in her hair. These little Silkies are just adorable, and you cover the subject very well. Chickens' legs and feet are thin and featherless (at least most breeds are), so therefore they lose heat rapidly. Silkies. In fact, I had one that lived in a rabbit cage in my house when she wasn't roaming free in the house. Those fluffy bottoms make great egg-sitters and in less than a month, you'll have cute little chicks with a beaming mama leading them around and showing them the world. The feathers can get in the way of a hen and a roo, so it's best to trim back any feathers to make sure the rooster can make contact and leave his deposit. The bald spots are populated with the new ‘pin’ feathers. Silkies have a fun tuff of feathers on top of their heads, which will eventually grow out and just barely start curling around their faces. Answer: There are numerous reasons your chicken might be unable to stand or walk. Also, remember that Silkies have fluffy butts that impede contact, you may have to trim the feathers a little to make sure they get a good connection. Often silkie roosters get along with each other fairly well, so it's not too much of a hardship, and their slightly lower fertility rates are offset with an extra rooster or two. Silkies are adorable. This can be a problem for us if we get new chicks in the spring and then autumn comes and makes them not lay just when they were about to start. Just silly birds! Question: What is the best way for children to hold chickens? Great lens!! Sometimes, the seemingly friendly puppy could inadvertently go overboard when playing with your bird. Those fur-covered chickens were not a rarity or novel thing back then, so we can deduce that they had most likely been around long before the 13th century. Either the hens … Silkies, with their mild personalities, passive attitudes, and impeded vision, are extremely vulnerable to bullying by other chickens. Silkies lay eggs that are slightly tinted with brown. Question: When do Silkies start laying eggs? Their skull projects upward instead of being as rounded as most animals' skulls. Also, make sure there is always plenty of food as shortages can also impact egg-laying. They are beautiful. Though they may not be the most intelligent of the chicken breeds, silkies make up for it by being the most gentle and sweet. When that happens, the birds will sometimes pluck each others' feathers out, and can really hurt one another. But if you're worried, the best way, in my experience, is to introduce chicks of other breeds to your adult or half-grown silkies. I always have at least one in my flock. Beware of these piles though — if it's too cold and they burrow too much, they can suffocate. I’m a silkie lower, I have been raising them for about four year , and I feel very happy , but there is something that make me very sad , two years ago I found my best buff hen dead in the coop, there was two other hen and a rooster , all silkies , I so that the rooster kill her , because he act so means whith the hens when he wants to mate whith them , I give him away. Either way, she sounds cute! They tend to get their feathers ripped out when mated or other chickens pick at them. Silkies have a fun tuff of feathers on top of their heads, which will eventually grow out and just barely start curling around their faces. If you are not happy with the way your silkie looks, you can color them with food coloring. But silkie breeders have to work hard to make sure their chickens have the right number of toes, otherwise they will get disqualified at shows. Molting usually begins at the head and neck and proceeds down the back, then to the chest, wings, and lastly the tail. Most people use a diaper. They have goo at the feed store to help prevent the feather picking. All the cases happen whith diferents hen and roosters , diferents floks , diferents coops , all of them raises by me thing littles chicks. While the pin feathers are growing in, try to avoid handling your birds-It is painful for them to be picked up at this time. If you want a mix of chickens, it is best to raise other breeds with silkies. Question: Splash is a colour type of Silkie , blue splash is black splashes on light grey; Paint is black on white? A safe enclosure to protect them from predators. They trim or pluck the feathers away from the Silkie's face if it does not need to be in top shape for a show. Keep doing that until it associates the clicking sound with getting a treat. Most chickens have four toes, but silkies have five toes on each foot. Neither of those work for Silkies. It all depends upon the Silkie's individual personality. Supervise play time and everyone will be safe. If you don’t already … This color variation is likened to the color of yellow wheat. Stand beside the chicken and place one palm on each side of the chicken's body. As you may already know, chickens produce more dust whenever they're growing in their feathers. Answer: About 6 months is the average age of sexual maturity for chickens. Silkie Club of Australia, Inc., has no official web page. Thanks for sharing a lot of great info about them, keep it up. Press her back against your chest with one hand, then use the other to slot a finger on either side of her legs. Springtime is the time of year when there is an outbreak of feather growth, but the main time for molting (losing feathers and replacing them) is in the fall. You can make your chickens think it is spring all year long and encourage egg-laying by providing supplemental light to increase the "daylight" to 12 hours a day. It all depends on the breeder's personal preference. If their feathers are black, then the black skin underneath makes the feathers look blacker. In other countries, however, there are two sizes of silkies: one that is a bit smaller than ours and a standard version that is a bit bigger than ours. Their basic needs include: They are actually surprisingly hardy considering how fancy and delicate they look. Silkies aren't well known for their flying. Bellezza-Decor from Canada on January 21, 2010: Wonderful looking Chickens. Most people carry chickens upside down by their legs as chickens sort of go to sleep when flipped upside down quickly, but I don't like having kids carry them that way as chicken's legs are delicate and kids might hurt them. Some breeds of chickens are sex-link, which means the males and females look different from birth. White feathers with black skin, gray/black beak and legs, 5 toes, poofy tail - but no leg feathers. Most breeds of chickens have bare legs, but some have feathers growing down their legs and even on their toes. :). If they are used to being handled, silkies will often let you do just about anything with them. This fungal infection takes up residence in the vent of your chickens. If they're all the same length, then it's a male chick, but if they vary in length, it's a female chick. Below I list the traits that separate them from the rest of their species. Nice that you have put together so much interesting dialogue about them. I have never had any problems with silkies and other breeds getting along, and have had a great many breeds with them. Additionally, look at the coloring on their heads since male chicks have light-colored heads, and females have dark brown heads. One of the reasons why chickens peck at each other is because of the natural texture and appearance of some of their features like feathers. Gait, Lameness. Often times, you can't tell whether silkies are male or female until they start laying eggs or crowing at about 6-7 months. This list is for serious silkie breeders and people interested in exhibition. Male and female Silkies tend to look very much alike far longer than other breeds of chickens. The molt starts with the feathers on the top of their head, followed by the neck, gradually working down the body until the tail feathers fall out. I breed them on the ranch and they are described as fluffy poodles. The list includes members from Europe, Australia, and a few other places. They love to sit on eggs (this is called broodiness or being broody), even ones that are fake or aren't fertile. Answer: Some do. Children also feel comfortable with them because they are small. Each hen will vary though. I’m so frustrated that I’m thinking to give them away! It's always best to place perches low so they can get up and down without straining themselves. Answer: Silkies usually start laying around 6 months, but all egg laying is influenced by the seasons. Many times chickens are able to start moving over time as their bodies do a good job at recovering. But often, it is better to just let her be broody and give her some eggs to hatch. Another idea that works well is to keep the silkies as house pets. It's part of being a chicken. So if you want a chicken just for the eggs, it may be better to get an egg-producing breed, such as a White Leghorn. Chicken’s may also be picking their feathers due to broodiness. They are gorgeous! Answer: Neosporin Ophthalmic Ointment is often used for eye infections in chickens, but I believe it is no longer over-the-counter. Gait, Reluctance to stand or walk. When a chicken molts they lose their feathers in a predictable pattern, most of the time. Answer: How many body parts total? Question: I brought home a new silkie rooster and two silkie chickens and put them in my coop. In the above picture, the little silkies and their rabbit pals are enjoying the nice spring weather while playing in the sunshine together. Another possibility is a disease. The little ones in the picture had all been raised together and were the best of friends. Here, feathers … We have one Silkie at present and she is losing her feathers on her head. The roosters often make good daddies anyway, and the extra rooster can help watch the chicks too. Although their origins are shrouded by time, we know they originated somewhere in China or Asia a very long time ago. This gives them a more beautiful crest, but can also be a source of danger. Show the child how you are holding the chicken, then slowly transfer. Some silkies have earlobes with a beautiful turquoise sheen. They are extremely laid-back and easy-going, so they make great pets, even for those who are not used to chickens. Look for animal tracks. All silkies are somewhat capable of flying, but it takes quite a bit of energy, and most don't bother or know how. With their vaulted skulls, Silkies have exceptionally delicate heads. She might have pulled her feathers out or is a mixed breed. Blessed. This can sometimes be a problem if they regularly walk into muddy areas or have a non-wired cage bottom. It is important not to help them while they are hatching since doing so can cause them to bleed to death. Soon many chickens … Thank you! I have a few. Very thorough lens. It also makes them wonderfully colored. So for example, as their head feathers are lost you should notice pin feathers that are ready to grow in. The eggs can be from other chickens or even other poultry. They do this to reduce heat loss and to warm up one foot at a time, tucking it into the feathers on their abdomen, and then switching feet. Question: I have a grey silkie about three years old, I've noticed she has a large growth or lump on the top of her head, what could this be? Their skin is very dark, and this makes them a popular delicacy in some Asian countries. My friend used to have three silkies and I always thought they were adorable. While it says on the package not to get in eyes, it was actually recommended to me by an eye doctor and has the same ingredients as the one for eyes. Instinct urges them to peck at red marks, as chickens find the taste of blood rewarding. Answer: I've never heard of a Belgian Splash Silkie. It's better to set them down gently. Thanks! Renaissance Woman from Colorado on December 30, 2011: I never knew about silkies until just now. Most hatchery-breed silkies are lower quality, and the majority of them have improper toes. However, when chickens are regrowing their feathers, they can look a little red, because they contain a vein filled with blood. Appreciated! Question: How many body parts does a silkie have? One of the most popular feather patterns of d'Uccles is called Mille Fleur and it sort of looks like a dramatic splash of dark brown and white splatters on a base of light, reddish brown. If you have ever played with a chicken feather, you will notice that even when you pull the little sections apart, you can make the feather whole again by brushing the barbules back into place. Rumpless. Answer: Most silkie chickens live 7-9 years, but they sometimes live longer with extra care. The first and most common reason why chickens lose their feathers is the ... it has feather on its wins and a little bit on its head however the neck has no feathers… This could be due to lack of protein in their diet (so they’re eating their protein rich feathers), or stress, or bug infestation. Breeders usually handle this in one of two ways. As it … This is a very good and informatiove,anyway I would like to have some oneday,thank you for sharing this. These birds are sweet and friendly, and they make wonderful pets for just about anyone. Down feathers are thos with no hooks and have a fluffy apperance. Air Sac Disease. Some people can look at the wing feathers in newborn chicks and use those to determine male and female. I do know that some people trim silkie's feathers to keep them out of their eyes. I think the chickens even get a bit of enjoyment out of it too because they get more attention and cuddles. The average over the year (with heat/light during the winter) would probably be about 15 eggs a month. Unlike most backyard chickens which have yellow skin, silkies have black skin. This is a chicken you would want to cuddle, and luckily for us, most silkies have such complacent personalities that they wouldn't mind it at all. Alisha Vargas (author) from Reno, Nevada on April 18, 2013: @anonymous: That's wonderful that you were able to save her! It is called a vaulted skull and makes their topknot feathers fluffier. Due to the silkies' tendency to be broody, there may be interruptions in egg-laying. Answer: It depends on the breed. Wow, thank you for using your skills to put together this awesome lense! Often starting around the vent and tail. Regular Neosporin (without pain reliever) will work. Good show chickens and some pet-quality silkies have skulls that are actually arched up at the top of their heads which leaves a vulnerable spot. A few months ago it happen the same thing whith a diferent rooster , I give him away too. Chickens peck each other, and as we all know, pecks can hurt and draw blood. But if you are unable to do so ensure she keeps eating and drinking well since not being able to get to their food and water is usually what ends up killing them and more water may help flush potentially-paralyzing bacteria from their systems. For more about raising, breeding, or showing, check out the groups below. Straining or trying to lay .