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Make sure your chickens are old enough to lay. Silkies can start to lay at around 7 to 9 months of age, although some will not lay until they are much older. The older a silkie is when she begins to lay, the more eggs she is likely to produce.
How often do Silkies lay eggs?
How Often Do Silkies Lay Eggs? A silkie chicken can lay about 120 eggs per year, about 2-4 eggs per week.
How many eggs a week do Silkies lay?
What is this? While not record setters for egg-laying, Silkies are generally consistent through most of the year. They tend to each lay about 3 eggs per week. They are more likely than other chickens to lay eggs through cold winters because of their fluffy feathers keeping them warm and content.
At what age do silkie roosters start crowing?
Silkie roosters usually begin crowing at about 4-5 months of age. Just because all Silkie roosters can crow doesn’t mean they all start to crow at the same age. Some are known to start crowing as young as two months, while others may not crow until well after a year old.
Why are my Silkies not laying?
Silkies aren’t bred for laying ability and so will seem to be very poor layers compared to breeds that were bred strictly for egg production. They don’t lay eggs during this phase, so it contributes to their overall poor egg performance and it may drag on for a month or two before they start again.
What Colour eggs do Silkies lay?
Their eggs are a white/cream color with occasional tinting. How many eggs do they lay? They are considered poor layers, giving only 2-3 eggs per week.
What is the lifespan of a silkie chicken?
7-9 Years Breed Expected Lifespan Popularity Silkie 7-9 Years #2 Plymouth Rock 8-10 Years #3 Orpington 8-10 Years #4 Leghorn 4-6 Years #5.
What age do silkies stop laying eggs?
Silkies will generally consistently lay their eggs for two years or so, then gradually their production will start to decline. A hen won’t simply one day stop laying eggs altogether.
Can you mix Silkies with other chickens?
A: Yes, in most cases you can mix breeds of chicken in your flock. Interestingly, in our experience, Silkies usually get on well with other chicken breeds, despite their unusual plumage, presuming you have several (and not just one lone “different” bird).
Do Silkies like to cuddle?
Silkie chickens are famous for their docile, sweet and nurturing temperament. Silkies don’t mind getting up close and personal with their human friends, in fact, they quite like being cuddled, kissed and groomed, making them eggcellent pets for young children.
Can 2 silkie roosters live together?
That said, most backyard chicken breeds do fine in flocks with multiple roosters. Favorite breeds for roosters (and multiple roosters) include Salmon Faverolles, Plymouth Rocks, Marans, Orpingtons, Australorps, Silkies and Brahmas.
How much are silkie chickens worth?
The cost of a silkie can vary greatly depending on the quality of breeding. A ‘show worthy’ silkie can cost up to $100, but backyard adult silkies will go for around $25. The initial investment will cost around $300-1000 for a coop and a few birds and thereafter ongoing costs are around $7-10 per month per bird.
How do you stop a silkie rooster from crowing?
The 8 Ways to Stop a Rooster From Crowing Hens. Image Credit: Capri23auto, Pixabay. Reduce the competition. A large part of why roosters crow is to show other roosters who’s in charge. Confuse him. Entertain him. There may actually be a reason. Keep him alone. Use a rooster collar. Try surgery.
What time of year do chickens stop laying eggs?
As the hours of daylight decrease in the fall, hens tend to stop laying eggs. However, if you keep the chickens comfy with light and warmth, they’ll reward you with more eggs. Many hens stop or slow down egg production during the fall and winter.
What age do chickens start laying eggs?
Many hens lay their first egg around 18 weeks of age and then lay up to an egg each day, subject to breed, environment and individual bird. At 18 weeks, choose a complete layer feed with the Purina® Oyster Strong® System to help your hens lay strong and stay strong.
Do Silkies lay eggs all year?
Silkies will lay from March to October as mentioned earlier in the thread – my black silkie laid hr first egg today, decent size too!Mar 26, 2008.
Can you eat Silkie chicken?
Silkies are very tame and gentle, making good pets. Hens are often assigned to hatching the eggs and tending the chicks of less attentive birds. They are, however, also widely eaten in East and Southeast Asia and are considered to have strong medicinal powers.
What is a blue silkie?
The Blue Silkie Bantam is a gorgeous variety of the Silkie Bantam breed, miniature chickens that originated in China and Japan. Blue Silkie Bantam chicks are blue with white wing tips and some white on the neck. Their bones, skin, beak, legs and toes are black.
Do Silkie Chickens like to be held?
Silkies are gentle, kind birds who love company and adore being held and fussed over.
Do Silkies need special care?
Do Silkies need special care? Yes a little special care is required for Silkie chickens. The feathers wet easily and the birds can become chilled if this happens. The extra toes and feather feet can sometimes be an issue.
Do Silkies need grass?
I move the cage about each day, so that they have fresh soil and grass and they fertilise the area evenly. You don’t need to spend a lot of money to keep chickens; there are lots of ways to make the equipment you need out of recycled materials.
How do you get silkies to lay eggs?
Ensure your chickens can see light for around 12 to 14 hours per day. If they cannot, provide lights inside the coop, and set these on a timer. Some owners find that providing a silkie with surrogate eggs to look after will prompt her into laying.
What is the best egg laying chicken?
Here are 10 of the best chicken breeds for producing eggs. Leghorn. Any discussion of the best egg-producing chickens must include the Leghorn. Rhode Island Red. Plymouth Rock. Australorp. Red Star. Orpington. Spanish (White-Faced Black Spanish) Sussex.