Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Morehens has finally got me I have my two bantam girls but I want more!!!! I am thinking of getting another classic and filling it with 3 silkies! I quite fancy a blue, black and a white one. I suspect my three year old son will love them! I think having them in different houses and runs would be better than trying to do intros? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Well done you, Silkies are lovely, I adopted Chubby Chooks black Silkie a few months back and are going to collect a white and blue next friday evening from a friends, sons, father in laws, friend As he lives in Essex are going to call them Sharon and Tracey Also hoping he may just have got me a Frizzle to be friends with Daisy and a Poland as well. both to be called Enid and Beryl Moorehens disease ...No such thing!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Have you thought of getting the Large Fowl Silkies? I love mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 How exciting Margaret - make sure you pop some photos on! Have you thought of getting the Large Fowl Silkies? I love mine Not sure - I just assumed I would get the bantam size. Would they need a bigger run? Whats the size difference? I have a bantam wynadotte but to be honest she is pretty big! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Not sure - I just assumed I would get the bantam size. Would they need a bigger run? Whats the size difference? I have a bantam wynadotte but to be honest she is pretty big! My girls are nearly as big as my Isa Warren girls. If you look on my thread 'Silkies-so excited' you will be able to see the size as I put on a few photos I have 2 in an eglu but I reckon you could have 3 in there with the standard run as I think that is the number recommended for hybrids. I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong with that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 Sounds good to me. Will have a look at your pics too. I have a slight dilemma at the mo as I have 2 rabbits too and they have a two storey wooden hutch and run each. My elderly bun is about 10 years old and his hutch is completely rotten. It won't last much longer so Im thinking of perhaps buying a rabbit eglu and putting my other bunny in it and letting my old bunny have his wooden hutch! Musical hutches!!! I see you have buns too - do they live in an eglu? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 Sorry didn't realise you have recently lost a bun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I see you have buns too - do they live in an eglu? When our rabbit had her babies she was in our spare eglu and I just took the bars out. It suited the purpose but the rabbit urine stains the base badly. I used to leave the door open at night as it would have been hard to get her in. Also unless your rabbit is good at using a toilet tray (ours was not) it is difficult to crawl in and clean the run. I also had to get a wire base for the run as she tried to dig her way out. I suppose I could have moved the eglu to clean grass but with the wire it made it harder. The grass also need reseeding after due to urine damage. She eventually moved back to her hutch with her son which is in a small tool shed in a WIR. The doors are open into the WIR at all times. As you saw our male rabbit sadly died recently . I suppose all in all I do not think I would buy a rabbit eglu. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Interesting about the rabbits and the Eglu Regarding your silkies Minty_76 - well done. I'm sure it is a decision you won't regret as they are such sweet gentle souls. Concerning size, though the banty Silkies are really tiny wee things, as Redwing has said elsewhere most are 'in betweenies' . I have looked after a friend's bantam Wyandottes had found that they are bit bigger (but not massively so) than my in-betweeny silkies. Margaret - sounds like you'll end up like me with Silkies, Polands and Frizzles. They make a lovely mix and all get on really well together. Next you'll be getting call ducks My morehens has died down somewhat this summer . . . but I still want another Poland so if you find a good source please do let me know and do say immediately should you spot a silver or particularly a gold laced POL one. I'd be happy to travel . . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 I suppose all in all I do not think I would buy a rabbit eglu. I suppose I was thinking more about the age of my buns and I don't think I would replace them. So an eglu would obviously be converted into a chicken one at some point. Although I do like the idea of having a WIR! My morehens has died down somewhat this summer . . . but I still want another Poland I considered Polands too I must admit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I suppose I was thinking more about the age of my buns and I don't think I would replace them. So an eglu would obviously be converted into a chicken one at some point. I can understand your thinking I don't know if there would be any huge advantage to buying the one specifically for rabbits or if you could do as I did and just use an eglu. If using an eglu I would certainly think how to fully protected the base as my rabbits were only on it for one summer and the staining is impossible to shift This Silkies thread has gone a bit rabbity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 This Silkies thread has gone a bit rabbity Hehe you're right! Back to silkies! I think I will need a trip to Mini Meadows at some point. I have never seen silkie in real life before but I bet they are very soft and cuddly. My 3 year old wants a cat - so silkies would be the next best thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 Yes, mega soft and fluffy. I think of mine as mini emus They are very, very broody (I have a broody cage set up and it seems as if I only get about 4 weeks before one or other is in it ) and I tend to use quite a lot of DE powder on them incase they are harbouring any nasties. They are also very gentle and are bullied by my hybrids Also probably the thickest birds on the planet.....I do love them though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 I'm sure you will enjoy your silkies, they are such cute little girls, very friendly and chatty and lay lovely little tasty eggs. Look forward to seeing some photos. They are a little bit dopey too but it's very endearing and yes they go broody at the drop of a hat but mine are very good natured about it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 6, 2012 Author Share Posted July 6, 2012 I have read about their broodiness. By the sounds of it you all love your silkies and doesn't sound like its a major problem. My Australorp has mini broodiness but I just politely give her a nudge! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 No I don't find it too much of a problem. My persistent broody is Cilla but she happily let's the others into the nest box to lay. I just put her out several times a day and will have a potter around, food and drink and then back again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted July 6, 2012 Share Posted July 6, 2012 One benefit to LF silkies is the size of their eggs. They are only a little smaller than my hybrids They are very good natured when broody but hard to snap out of it. The only way for mine is to use the cage and even after the 3 days I often find there still seems to be a lingering desire for the nest box for a further few days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs_B Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 When (not if, 'when' ) you get your Silkies I would love to see a photo! I would love to get some Silkies in the future when I have more room, I think I would definitely go for the larger hen and not bantam x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 LolaLayla - Large fowl silkies sound great. I live in Nottingham and don't know many breeders around here but I will try Mini Meadows I think. My hubbie is helping me move the garden around - amazing as he wasn't that bothered about me getting chickens in the first place. I now catch him chatting to them I dreamt about silkies last night!!! Can't wait! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 8, 2012 Share Posted July 8, 2012 One thing about broody silkies, they plop down right where you put them and stay there . . . probably ideal for a three year old who wants to cuddle a pet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 One thing about broody silkies, they plop down right where you put them and stay there . . . probably ideal for a three year old who wants to cuddle a pet. Hehe sounds good to me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Here's my 'plopped down' golden Silkie, Dolly, who hasn't even bothered to get into the nest box and take it from me she is not sitting on anything at all The others in the back are some good little laying chickens (Frizzles) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Share Posted July 9, 2012 Beautiful. I just want to cuddle her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted July 9, 2012 Share Posted July 9, 2012 Yes, she is a real cuddle bug. This is my favourite picture of the same chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
