Tag: Silkie hens in Minnesota

Silkies For Sale 6/17/2020

by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

In response to the Covid-19 crisis we are modifying the way we conduct business.  All silkie sales will be done curbside.  Preferred payment is cash but we also use Venmo. Contact me through Private Message on Facebook to inquire about availability.  We will schedule an appointment and I will have the chicks boxed up and waiting for you.  This is to insure the safety of everyone involved..

We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry.  We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state  inspected hatchery.  No Shipping/Pick up only.  We sell one  week old unsexed silkie chicks.  We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets.  We can no longer accept rooster returns.  If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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We currently have a waiting list for 4 month old female silkie pullets.  They are $70 each.  Contact me if you would like to be added to the list.

20190130_155424-1 One week old silkie chicks are $14 each. Silkie chicks are not sexed.

 

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

 

Silkies For Sale – 2/14/20

by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Here is what is available for the week of Feb. 14, 2020.  We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry.  We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state  inspected hatchery.  No Shipping/Pick up only.  We sell one and two week old unsexed silkie chicks.  We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets.  We can no longer accept rooster returns.  If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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Four month old female silkie pullets –  $65 each.

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Honey is a 4 year old black hen.  She is $40.

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Pen 21 – One Week Olds hatched 2/6 – 12 grey – $13 each.

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Pen 20 – One week olds hatched 2/6 – 11 partridge, 2 white, 1 black – $13 each.

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Pen 8 – Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 3 buff, 4 grey – $15 each.

20200212_152935Pen 7 –  Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 3 blue, 5 partridge – $15 each

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Pen 19 -Four week olds hatched 1/16- 6 white ($19 each), Three week olds hatched 1/23 – 6 white ($17 each), Two week olds hatched 1/30 – 2 white, 1 black ($15 each) One week olds   hatched 2/6 – 2 white, 2 black ($13 each). Newborns hatched 2/13 – 6 black – ($11 each) Perfect for 4-H poultry showing. NPIP and Pullorum tested. You will not need to retest when you are ready to show.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

 

 

 

 

Silkies For Sale – 1/25/20

by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Here is what is available for the week of Jan. 25, 2020.  We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry.  We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state  inspected hatchery.  No Shipping/Pick up only.  We sell one and two week old unsexed silkie chicks.  We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets.  We can no longer accept rooster returns.  If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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Four month old female silkie pullets –  $65 each.

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Maud and Honey are 4 year old black hens.  They are $40 each.

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Pen 21 – One week olds hatched 1/16 – 5 buff, 8 grey – $13 each.

 

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Pen 20 – One week olds hatched 1/16 – 3 buff, 1 blue, 6 partridge – $13 each.

 

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Pen 19 – One week olds hatched 1/16 – 12 white – $13 each.  Pen 18- Newborns – 6 white – $11 each. Perfect for 4-H poultry showing. NPIP and Pullorum tested. You will not need to retest when you are ready to show.

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Pen 8 – Two week olds hatched 1/9 – 5 grey – $15 each.

 

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Pen 7 – Two week olds hatched 1/9 – 3 blue, 5 partridge – $15 each.

 

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Pen 6 – Two week olds hatched 1/9 – 9 white -$15 each. Perfect for 4-H poultry showing. NPIP and Pullorum tested. You will not need to retest when you are ready to show.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

 

 

Silkies For Sale 1/10/20

by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

Here is what is available for the week of Jan. 10, 2020.  We hatch out silkie chicks every week at VJP Poultry.  We are NPIP, Pullorum tested and a Minnesota state  inspected hatchery.  No Shipping/Pick up only.  We sell one and two week old unsexed silkie chicks.  We also sell 4 month old female silkie pullets.  We can no longer accept rooster returns.  If you are not allowed to have roosters where you live I would recommend that you consider a four month old female silkie pullet.

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These three are all 4 month old female silkie pullets that are available.  The pullets are $65 each.

 

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These two are four year old silkie hens.  They are older and not laying as often.  The black hens are $40 each.

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Pen 21 – One week olds hatched 1/2/20 – 6 grey – $13 each.

 

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Pen 20 – One week olds hatched 1/2/20 – 6 buff, 1 blue, 6 partridge – $13 each.

 

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Pen 8 – Two week olds hatched 12/26 – 5 grey – $15 each.

 

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Pen 7 – Two week olds hatched 12/26 – 4 partridge, 1 blue, 1 buff – $15 each.

If you have any questions or would like to set up a time to come out and pick up some silkies, you can contact me by texting 612-756-1414 or PM me at the VJP Poultry Facebook page.

 

 

How To Check For Mites On A Silkie Chicken

by vjppoultry, posted in New Silkies

20170725_105651  We know that silkies are extra fluffy,  but that extra fluffiness can be the perfect spot to harbor mites.  Poultry mites are very tiny insects that will from time to time try and set up camp on your silkie.  It is a very common and natural occurrence that can happen no matter how clean you keep your coop.  If your bird is outside at all, it is being exposed to mites.  Many people believe that mites are carried by wild birds.  Bird feeders should not be placed near your coop.

When a chicken appears bedraggled and hunched over or when it looks like they have a chronic poopy behind, you should first check to see if it has mites before anything else.  It is best to check your silkie on a regular basis in order to head off an infestation before it occurs.   Prevention can go a long way in making sure that those mites leave your bird alone.

20170725_110548     The first thing we do at VJP Poultry in a check up is to set up our work area. We use an ironing board. Mite checking is easier if two people do it together. One is holding the bird and the other is spreading the feathers.  Tools you might need are: scissors that cut feathers, magnifying glass, Adams flea and tick spray, poultry dust and Frontline for dogs or cats.

20170725_105644     Capt’N Billy was our model for our pictures.  He is a young partridge rooster.  The first area we check over is the crest.  Use your fingers to spread open the feathers so that you can see the base of the feathers against the chicken’s skin.  With silkies it is easiest to look at the feathers.  Since the skin is black the dark mites do not show up easily.  You are looking for clumps of mites that are moving.  Movement is key.  The bugs are so tiny that it is easy to confuse it with dirt.  If it is moving, its mites.  Check in several different places in the crest as they could be anywhere in there.

Next work your way down its neck, checking the beard as well. Look at the base of the feathers.  If you find something suspicious, pull the feather out and look at it under the magnifying glass.

20170725_105558     We also look at the base of the tail and under the wings.  Turn the bird around and check out the vent.  You may see little bite marks around the vent.  Those bite marks are letting you know that mites have been there.  Dust or spray carefully around the vent area.  You don’t want any chemicals to enter through the vent.

The powder is a good preventative.  Dust the bird lightly with it and work the powder down to the skin.   I will also dust the bedding in the coop especially the area where they typically sleep at night.

The spray is used more often if you see some mites.  Just spray directly on the area that you find them in.  If it is a bad infestation, you may want to give them a bath first  using a flea and tick shampoo for dogs or cats..  Always blow dry your silkie afterwards so that they don’t become chilled.

We use Frontline Plus on our silkies.  We use one drop on the neck directly onto the skin.  It is very effective and will kill both the mites and their eggs that will hatch later.  Frontline protection can last for over a year.  Frontline is not made for poultry and the company does not encourage its use on other animals besides dogs.   You are taking a risk of overdosing your bird if you use too much. Less is better.

Keeping vigilant and do periodic checks.  Most birds will experience it at one time or another.  Silkies seem more prone to it with their large crests.  Having a plan is your best defense against these little critters.

For tips and tricks for raising outstanding silkies check out our Chicken Learning Center at VJPPoultry.com .  VJP Poultry is an NPIP and state inspected hatchery located 30 miles north of St. Paul.  We hatch out silkies all year long so we always have stock available.  Like us on Facebook to get weekly updates on what we currently have for sale.

Victoria J. Peterson