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  • #1

    A cunning plan!

    Ok, so you all know I lost my fav. chook Nanny Ogg very sadly the other day,and from what I have read it really is not possible to add a single chook to an existing flock. I really can not justify adding two new big hens so I have had an amazing thought. I have a coop within my chook run which at the moment houses my daughters lovely lop bunny, who comes out and hops about with the girls now and then. When he moves to Bournemouth to live with her I could move in two silkies. The coop would be more than suitable for two little hens, and they are really lovely. I've always loved the look of them, little Dr.Suez birds. I could keep them there happily and then if the moment ever arose introduce them.Somehow two little silkies doesn't equate, and I really don't want to cope with the stress off introduction.
    How much damage do they do in the garden, ie do they scratch about as much as hybrids, do loads of damage to plants?
    Any thoughts?
    Gardening forever- housework whenever
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  • #2
    Pity you aren't nearer, you could've had our Silkie/Frizzle crosses in a few weeks time. We think we have two females and a cockerell. Going free to a good home when they are old enough. Oh yes...they're pale lavender in colour.

    Jules
    Last edited by julesapple; 19-06-2010, 01:29 PM.
    Jules

    Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

    ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

    Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

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    • #3
      Let's have a pic of these then julesapple - they sound like candy floss on legs

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      • #4
        Sounds like a wonderful idea to me Lettucegrow! They lay cute little eggs too - not as small as a banty but not as big as the LF. Go for it I say!

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        • #5
          Visited someone today who had several pekins on their lawn. Lavender, buff and some I couldn't remember the name of but they were so pretty. A bit like miniature Welsummers but with feathery legs. They ran across the lawn to greet me and loved having a cuddle. Nearly tempted to pop them in my handbag. Was offered some fertile eggs to stick under my broody,it was very hard to resist. Cockerel is lavender so not sure what offspring would look like.

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          • #6
            I have one mini silkie, a white puffball, even my OH loves him, calls him snowflake.
            Would love more when I can. A real character despite being only young.
            I also have sablepoots, fluffy footed bantams which are gorgeous, but boy does the rooster scrat...
            Anyone who says nothing is impossible has never tried slamming a revolving door

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            • #7
              Going to find out when daughter no.1 is planning on moving the bunny and start looking out for some. Thanks for the offer Jules but I think you are bit too far away. Would love to see pics though.
              Gardening forever- housework whenever

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              • #8
                These hatched from eggs given to us by the animal sanctuary that the DD works weekends for. I'm not a Silkie or Frizzle expert, but I think there is more of the Frizzle in two of them than the other at this stage, the third one is very soft and downy but smoother. They are all three very cute though.

                Jules







                Jules

                Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

                ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

                Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

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                • #9
                  Great pics Jules!

                  LG - why do you want to keep them separate from the others? If you are intending to get two silkies then you could introduce them both to your existing flock, and yes there will be the inevitable bullying but two will cope better than one.

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                  • #10
                    I didn't think it was a good idea mixing the size of hens,that they wouldn't cope very well. The last introduction to my girls was horrible, pecking damage and too stressful that I didn't want to go through that again. I thought that if I kept them in their own little home I could let them take their time seeing them and if I thought they'd be OK give it a go. At the moment the bunny hops around with my girls when I am around -he gets the odd peck on the head from the hen at the bottom of the pack, but mostly they ignore him.
                    Gardening forever- housework whenever

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                    • #11
                      I forgot, those pics are lovely Jules. What pretty little girlies.
                      Gardening forever- housework whenever

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                      • #12
                        Not sure if they are girlies yet...we think we have two females and a male but as they change, so we keep changing our minds.

                        I'll post some pics of our 2wk old chicks when DD comes back from gallivanting in Woollacombe - the pics are on her memory card - but I won't hijack Lettuce's thread (sorry Lettuce!)

                        Jules
                        Jules

                        Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

                        ♥ Nutter in a Million & Royal Nutter by Appointment to HRH VC ♥

                        Althoughts - The New Blog (updated with bridges)

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                        • #13
                          Don't worry, Jules, I love seeing pics.
                          Need advice about keeping these bids. Are they happy without a cock bird. Lots of places that sell silkies seem to want them to go in trios of two hens and a cock. Hadn't thought about a cockerel,do they make as much noise first thing?
                          Gardening forever- housework whenever

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by lettucegrow! View Post
                            Don't worry, Jules, I love seeing pics.
                            Need advice about keeping these bids. Are they happy without a cock bird. Lots of places that sell silkies seem to want them to go in trios of two hens and a cock. Hadn't thought about a cockerel,do they make as much noise first thing?
                            I've been chook sitting while my allotment neighbour had a holiday. He has a Silkie cockerel and the answer is YES they do make a noise! He suddenly crowed right in my ear as I was cleaning the hut out! Most people selling birds want to sell trios etc so they don't have to cull the boys. I believe the meat of Silkies is black so wouldn't be to our Western taste though it's a delicacy in the Far East apparently!

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                            • #15
                              My understanding is that silkie meat tastes the same as ordinary chicken but it is the colour that puts people off. Never eaten a silkie so cannot comment - will have to try it one day!

                              All little cocks have very shrill crows - rather more annoying than a larger bird, in my opinion.

                              Lettucegrow - Is it bantam silkies or normal size you are after?

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