How to Care for Silkie Bantams

Bantam chickens range from one-half to one-fourth the size of a standard chicken. Silkie bantams are unique in that they cannot fly because of the structure of their feathers. A lack of barbicels, which normally holds a bird's feather strands together, gives silkies the soft, fluffy feathers that cover their entire body. Other than the need for more protection because they cannot fly or perch far from the ground, silkie care is not different from caring for other chickens.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken coop
  • Feeders
  • Waterers
  • Chicken tractor
  • Sawdust
  • Straw
  • Garden hose
  • Spray nozzle
  • Diamotaceous earth
  • Chicken feed
  • Crushed oyster shell
  • Gloves
  • Face mask
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Instructions

  1. Care of Silkie Bantam Living Space

    • 1

      Purchase a chicken coop from your local feed store or an online source. Construct the coop according to the instructions. The coop keeps predators out and protects your chickens when they roost at night and during inclement weather.

    • 2

      Set up chicken feeders and waterers in the chicken coop. Feeders and waterers should be four to six inches above the ground. Purchase feeders and waters from the same company that made the chicken coop.

    • 3

      Purchase a chicken tractor from your local feed store or an online source. Construct the tractor according to the instructions. The tractor allows your chickens to forage safely during the day. You can move the tractor around, giving your silkie bantams a constantly fresh supply of grass and insects.

    • 4

      Install waterers in the chicken tractor. You can purchase waterers that are made specifically for your tractor and attach to the sides.

    • 5

      Spread sawdust and straw on the floor of the chicken coop, creating a layered bedding. Sawdust absorbs odors and manure, making clean-up quicker and easier. Straw provides nesting material and additional warmth for chickens at night.

    • 6

      Add fresh straw once per week during warm weather and twice per week during cold weather. Add fresh sawdust every two weeks.

    • 7

      Clean the chicken coop once per month from spring until early fall. Remove all sawdust and straw, and replace it with fresh sawdust and straw. Do not clean the coop from mid-fall until early spring. The bedding will build up and heat the chicken coop naturally.

    • 8

      Clean the feeders and waterers every two days. This keeps pests out and prevents bacterial buildup.

    • 9

      Clean the chicken tractor once per week. Use a garden hose with a spray nozzle. Set the spray nozzle to the highest spray setting, and spray the entire tractor.

    Care and Feeding of Silkie Bantams

    • 10

      Mix diamotaceous earth into the chicken feed before feeding it to the silkie bantams. Add two cups of earth for every 50 pounds of feed. Adding the diamotaceous earth, an organic pesticide, keeps insects out of the feed and parasites out of the chickens.

    • 11

      Feed the silkie bantams once per day. Fill the feeders with the chicken feed mixed with diamotaceous earth. Chicken feed alone does not provide enough nutrients for chickens. They will forage during the day while in the chicken tractor, rounding out their diet with insects, plants and seeds.

    • 12

      Water the chickens several times per day. In hot weather, empty the waterers, and fill them with fresh, cool water. In cold weather, keep the waterers free from ice.

    • 13

      Apply diamotaceous earth to the chickens. Hold the silkie bantams in your hand, and rub a handful of diamotaceous earth into their feathers to control external parasites.

    • 14

      Spread crushed oyster shell in the chicken coop and the yard. Crushed oyster shell provides a necessary calcium supplement.