How to raise Backyard Chickens: RE: [CHICKENS-101] Black Silkies

Thanks, Cathryn, but I’ll have to pass. I still have young Silkies that I need to sell or make a new coop for. Also Moderns and OEGs……….it is just so hard to decide which to keep and which to sell!

Poultry sales have really fallen and I have no doubt it is the heat, along with summer vacations. This happened last year and I have figured out that the best time for sales is from March until June………then everything tapers off. Next year, I will gear my Guinea sales and chick sales to those months and then just use Craig’s List for any others left to sell. I’ve had real good luck at the chicken swaps, but it has been too hot to go and I missed the July swap and will probably skip the August swap if the temp is still so hot.

I just started letting our 25 red stars free range. They were hatched in April and they know where to roost at night and put themselves to bed, waiting for us to close their door. I am not crazy about their temperaments, but they probably have better survival skills than the sweeter chickens. I plan to sell some and keep some.

Laura

Laura Roberts

R Half Pint Farm

Spotsylvania, VA

From: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com [mailto:CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of CathrynTherese Fitch Walden
Sent: Saturday, July 28, 2012 11:42 PM
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Black Silkies

LOL! I am so sorry Ick is a monster. I will gladly replace him for free but you have to pay shipping and keep Ickabod or find him a new home.I can send free silkie friends along with a cockerel to make up for his awful behavior.

I raised a perfectly round, typey, large crest with extra long streamers, nice combed, nice foot feathering, clean neck, radiant snow white, naked neck cockerel. I had great showing plans for him because he is so beautiful and sweet natured. He is my ONLY male clean neck nn silkie.

Last week I did a double take...in the middle of his big crest his nice little comb grew into a single comb!! I am so bummed. I took him out of the frizzle pen and put him in with the cockerels and roosters because frizzles already carry a recessive gene even though they are a good 10 years of breeding away from the original crosses with frizzle cochins. I don't need a single comb polluting their genes, they have perfect combs and so do their chicks.

Now what do I do with this cockerel that I primed for show and handled??? Single combs haven't been a problem in my naked necks until this guy. :( When I have culls and plan on using them for food they are not handled and trained. Sigh...

Cathryn rainbowsilkiesTM Michigan