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Post by fluffychook on Jun 15, 2009 20:06:01 GMT 8
Just got an email back from Maxine, the partridge one she says is out of Blue Splash and will be a blue partridge and the other two will be Lemon, silver partridge. Very pretty she says. She hoped that I only put them on the ground to photograph them and that they will be show quality if i keep them off the ground until they are laying. She suggests...lol She also mentioned that she is writing a book on hatching and rearing silkies, these are not chooks but a rare bird. I don't have the heart to tell her they have access to dirt every day and will always have it. I don't think that keeping them off the ground will have any bearing on whether they will turn out to be show quality or not. Maybe she meant they will have a better chance of survival. My mortality rate is almost nil.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jun 15, 2009 20:21:52 GMT 8
Lol keep them off the ground and they'll turn out show quality, what a classic I reckon that you end up with hardier birds in the long run if you let the chicks live like a bird should lol. Let them play in the dirt, dustbathe, play in the puddles (to an extent) etc etc. They build up a natural immunity. Will be interesting to watch these little ones mature and see how their colouring turns out. So you'd better keep us updated with piccies
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Post by fluffychook on Jun 15, 2009 20:28:29 GMT 8
That is my thoughts too Steph. She would be horrified if she saw some of my pictures of my silkies taken when it was raining. For such a lovely bird they are so STUPID!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It is raining, you are getting soaked, it is dry and warm in the coop, the doors are OPEN WIDE so you can get in easily. You can choose from 3 coops, you have been herded in and then they still come up. Stupid stupid birds. The light sussex never get wet, learn by example. If it rains like that again I am going to lock them in. Maybe they will learn that way. Now Thunder has his gurgles back again.....grrrrr
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jun 15, 2009 20:34:29 GMT 8
Lol I know exactly what you mean. Silly silly birds Bummer about Thunder A bit of rain combined with these very chilly nights is perfect for a bit of respiratory.
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Post by Duck Diva on Jun 15, 2009 20:42:19 GMT 8
It was so funny when we got our first decent downpour a few weeks back. The Pekins were bewildered didnt know what it was and they were huddling near the fence in the rain. So there I was out in this massive rain storm, putting all the chooks in their houses. The Silkies were absolutely soaked so I towelled them off. Theyre like the dizzy blondes of the chook world Well in my yard anyhow
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Post by horses7 on Jun 15, 2009 21:15:47 GMT 8
possibly Maxine might have meant by keeping them off the ground their foot feathering wont get damaged maybe
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Post by fluffychook on Jun 16, 2009 8:08:17 GMT 8
This is the email, what do you think she meant.
First photo Big boys is out of Blue Splash will be a Blue Partridge, Lemon, SilverPartridge.All very pretty,Hope you only put them on the ground to photograph them?,and you have medicated chick starter?They will be show quality if you keep them off the ground like I suggest,until they are laying? have Randy with the huge Buff be /Hen. Their chicks are due soon. I have some terrific Buffs and brilliant coloured Lemons from him they really stand out,Huge pom poms, long silk, so I put him with the best buff hen/ She looks even better since she molted.Did you see the photos I put on the site?You would not beleave what some people have done with their eggs, thinking they were hatching normal chicks,expecting to see a chick like they drawings in the books, through the shell when candelling!!, Putting them under hens that were not clucky, half way through the time , I could go on all night . I am really exhausted after all of them.I am going to take the info back off the site and finish the book on hatching and rareing Silkies.They are not Chooks they are a rare bird.Congratulations on the lovely chicks and the lovely photos Cheers Maxine
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Post by fluffychook on Jun 16, 2009 8:13:28 GMT 8
I just sent off an email asking her what she meant, no point in speculating is there.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jun 16, 2009 8:18:55 GMT 8
Lol true
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Post by aliahna on Jun 16, 2009 10:11:05 GMT 8
I think she was probably refering to their health considering she mentioned the medicated chick starter. She probably means that they are show quality but will only stay that way if they are kept healthy. I don't think that she has to worry about health being an issue with your chicks Tina.
As for silkies being a rare bird, aren't they listed as having the most amount of breeders in the BYP breeders directory???
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jun 16, 2009 10:29:15 GMT 8
Lol yeh I wouldnt consider them rare. Theres plenty of them around that are average quality, I think she probably means that the top notch Silkies are hard to find.
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Post by fluffychook on Jun 16, 2009 11:38:34 GMT 8
I would of thought they would build up more resistance by being allowed to do things that chooks do naturally, like Steph mentioned earlier. I do agree that top notch silkies are hard to find and so are many colours. Yes Alex I think you are right.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Jun 16, 2009 12:46:37 GMT 8
I guess everybody has different ways of doing things. I'm definately an advicator of letting the chicks do what chooks do naturally and build up a natural immunity rather than live their lives in a little cage standing on wood shavings, bored sh**less. But hey, thats just my opinion. No offence to anybody who agrees with Maxines way of doing things. I'm not trying to stir up trouble, just giving my opinion
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Post by jacquie on Jun 16, 2009 12:48:13 GMT 8
white and black silkies are not rare, but all teh other colours have been listed as rare birds by the rare breeds trust....................and as it sounds like she has some rarer coloiurs maybe this is what she means??
have you got the website address that she refers too, i would love to look at it. cheers jacquie.
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Post by fluffychook on Jun 16, 2009 13:35:44 GMT 8
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