Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => The Hen House => Topic started by: Lewjam on January 08, 2010, 15:40

Title: Bantam Silkies
Post by: Lewjam on January 08, 2010, 15:40

Hello,

My parents are looking at getting a couple of little Bantams to brighten up the garden! – amd make me little bread bun sized fried eggs!

(My dad has kept racing pigeons for years and i think my mum has finally pestered him to let her have some chooks!)

Is any one in the Lincolnshire or Sheffield area planning to hatch any chicks out in the spring that may spare 2 for sale?

Really looking to get some nice ones from a good home, to go to a new good home!

Lew

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: IMOmimey on January 08, 2010, 17:27

tut tut, norty step!!! must not use this site to buy/sell, only FOC/swapsies.
you could look at the poultry breeders pages on this site, it is arranged in regions which should help you.

Silkies are really good little cuties, but they need a covered run, or at least plenty of shelter, and are not reliable layers. They are maybe the prettiest and friendliest though, but I may be biased!!!

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: themagicaltoad1 on January 08, 2010, 17:34

And silkies go broody at the drop of a hat, so no eggs for possibly several weeks. If you just want little eggs go for a different type of bantam, there are some very cute breeds.

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: Aunt Sally on January 08, 2010, 17:37

Pekin bantams are very hardy.

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: IMOmimey on January 08, 2010, 18:09

Quote from: Aunt Sally on January 08, 2010, 17:37

Pekin bantams are very hardy.

and really really cute. they come in lots of colours too, so could have them all look very different...I have Eric (partridge colour), Limony Snickett (Lemon cuckoo), Millie (millefleur),  Dotty (splash) and Boo (as in Peek-a-boo, pekin-a-boo  :lol:) who is a cheeky little lavender (first seen playing peek-a-boo under the white wing of flossie, her brood mummy, a silkie.

They are hardier than silkies (more waterproof :D ), although they have heavily feathered feet, so dont like mud. I have found that pekins are brilliant with their own kind, even extra cockerels, but do not go well with other breeds, even as chicks! They seem to be terrible feather pickers, but not each other, odd?!

 

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: joyfull on January 08, 2010, 18:12

sablepoots are even cuter - I have a pair of lemon millefleur called Buddy Holly and Peggy Sue and they are just so tame  :D

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: Aunt Sally on January 08, 2010, 18:48

Pekin's are adorable little birds :D

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff221/Aunt__Sally/DSC03978.jpg)

(http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/ff221/Aunt__Sally/DSC03969.jpg)

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: IMOmimey on January 08, 2010, 18:57

awwww, cuties   :tongue2: :D

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: poppies on January 09, 2010, 09:18

Quote from: joyfull on January 08, 2010, 18:12

sablepoots are even cuter - I have a pair of lemon millefleur called Buddy Holly and Peggy Sue and they are just so tame  :D

The cutest of the cute and real good egg layers I have lemon millefleur, porcelaine and gold, and really tame usually end up with them all perched up my arms.

Title: Re: Bantam Silkies
Post by: Lewjam on January 11, 2010, 08:15

hehe sry didn’t realise about no buying, but don’t have any to swap unless people need high quality racing pigeons!!

My parents are not really fused about the laying either - more as pets to remind them of "the good old days" as they used to keep bantams in years gone by heh

Thanks for the advise though :)