Can anyone tell me about Silkie Chickens

[woodleighcreek]

Here is what I can tell you about silkies: THEY ARE AWESOME!

I had 2 cockerels and a pullet and they were the sweetest in the flock. I could hold them and hug them and love them. They were amazing. I have heard that they are great to use for hatching when broody. My pullet never layed eggs though as I had to give my chickens away. Stupid neighbourhoods.

 

[jodief100]

I have been raising chickens off and on for 30 years but I have never had decorative breeds like the silkies before. Up until 8 years ago I never had anything but the "barnyard mixes" my aunt gave me and Rhode Island Red's.

I have had these silkies for 3 days. They have laid a total of ONE egg. 4 hens and a roo, or so the seller told me. I still can't quite tell the roos from the hens with these. For all I know she sold me 4 roos and a hen. I bought them to be living incubators. I have to admit I am enjoying them. Very calm, I can handle them and catch them no problem.

I really love Barred Rocks. Great layers, good dual purpose birds and good personalities.

 

[Ms. Research]

I have been raising chickens off and on for 30 years but I have never had decorative breeds like the silkies before. Up until 8 years ago I never had anything but the "barnyard mixes" my aunt gave me and Rhode Island Red's.

I have had these silkies for 3 days. They have laid a total of ONE egg. 4 hens and a roo, or so the seller told me. I still can't quite tell the roos from the hens with these. For all I know she sold me 4 roos and a hen. I bought them to be living incubators. I have to admit I am enjoying them. Very calm, I can handle them and catch them no problem.

I really love Barred Rocks. Great layers, good dual purpose birds and good personalities.

Thanks Jodie. Sorry I brought your new purchases up to start the thread but I was reading your journal at the time and wanted DH to see them. He's now changed his mind on chickens are nasty to looking at all the breeds that were suggested. Thanks EVERYONE! I'm glad you brought up the "living incubators" because that's what I was thinking with the Silkies. I know I'm going to get a few. I just think they are so neat. Glad to hear they are calm and easy to handle.

Barred Rocks,
Cochin
Salmon Faverolles
Ameraucana

This is the short list so far. Will be looking forward to heading down Woodstown to County Fair and Auction to actually see them when the time comes.

Thanks again everyone. Your help is deeply appreciated.

 

[jodief100]

Thanks Jodie. Sorry I brought your new purchases up to start the thread but I was reading your journal at the time and wanted DH to see them. He's now changed his mind on chickens are nasty to looking at all the breeds that were suggested. Thanks EVERYONE! I'm glad you brought up the "living incubators" because that's what I was thinking with the Silkies. I know I'm going to get a few. I just think they are so neat. Glad to hear they are calm and easy to handle.

I thought it was a compliment. Glad we could help. Chickens are a great start to any farm operation. Easy to care for, inexpensive to get started with and provide both meat and eggs. They also are great composters.

 

[elevan]

My DH started out "The chickens are ALL YOURS" He wanted nothing to do with them. He hated birds of any kind...it was actually due to a fear of bats...but hey, they all have wings, right?

Anyway...things change. Now, all the poultry are "his girls and boys"

 

[Roll farms]

Keep in mind you'll have to decide between standard or bantam, too. A standard roo, esp. a mean one, can be intimidating. I like bantams (eat less, calmer, etc) but I need big eggs from standards.

 

[Ms. Research]

Keep in mind you'll have to decide between standard or bantam, too. A standard roo, esp. a mean one, can be intimidating. I like bantams (eat less, calmer, etc) but I need big eggs from standards.

Thanks for the heads up on roos who like to intimidate.

 

[Roll farms]

Seriously, every EE and RIR roo I ever met have been total ...very bad words.
Cochin, Faverolle, and brahma roos are my fav.

 

[elevan]

I've got an EE Roo right now that needs an attitude adjustment daily. And the one and only RIR roo that we had went to the freezer.

 

[marlowmanor]

Ya'll are making me want to rethink keeping our EE roo with all the negative I'm hearing about them.We have an EE roo and a BR roo in our flock. I was considering getting rid of the BR roo b/c I don't want a ton of barred babies around if we ever hatch from this flock. Neither roo has shown agression towards us though, but then they are only almost 12 weeks old now too. Neither roo is crowing yet, but I have definately seen the EE showing dominance over the BR. I know I will need to get rid of one of the roos at some point because we will not have anough hens for both of them to share them. We plan to hatch some eggs this spring (hopefully) so that would add some hens to the group but I still don't see us with more than a dozen chickens in the space we have. Therefore we only need one roo. I will definately keep an eye out on our EE roo. I've never been attacked by a chicken, but I don't think I want that to change either.