Knott's Silly Family Farm

07/19/2026

🦆🥚 The pekin ducks are just over 20 weeks old and the first eggs have been laid 🥰

07/14/2026

👀😍 look at all those speckles!!! And the colors💕🥰

07/12/2026

🙋‍♀️Anybody else have a tower of chicks/ growouts??? No, just me? OK 💁‍♀️

07/09/2026

Letting the babies swim a bit 🥰 We're all just trying to beat this heat 🥵

07/08/2026

Who's scared of a little old toad🐸!?! Me, when I didn't know he was there and almost picked him up with weeds!!! Guess the berry bush is hiding locals🤪

07/07/2026

New layer 📣 And the speckles🥰

I have four growouts that this beautiful egg could belong to... two are BYM that we hatched and they are going to a friend; so if it's one of them, they will let me know... BUT, and its a big one! If it belongs to one of the other two young ladies, that would mean I have a olive egger Turken and I'd be stoked 🥰😍 Now to see if I can catch the layer in action 🤪

07/05/2026

🦆Remeber the baby ducks from late February??? They are currently molting and our two boys offically have their drake curl 😍

07/01/2026

T- minus 22 hours and this silly cast comes off 😁

Also... look at this little "Hankie" growout we hatched from Nolie at Mojo Homestead 🥰

07/01/2026

🥺The downside of chicken keeping is that you do lose birds, it happens... here are some reasons why...

Reasons Chickens Don’t Survive—

In order of my opinion from most common to least common…

1. Predators—
Everything loves to eat chickens… even you. 😉 Raccoons, coyotes, owls, hawks, opossums, cats, and dogs can all be predators. Keeping chickens safe isn’t easy, especially because they’re prey animals that live outdoors. Nighttime is when they’re most vulnerable. Silkies are even more prone to predators because their crest feathers can significantly limit their vision.

2. Parasites—
Keeping internal and external parasites under control is VERY IMPORTANT! A bird with a heavy parasite load can decline quickly. Mites and lice are WAY more common than many people realize, and plenty of flock owners don’t know they have them until a bird becomes sick or dies. Always have a preventative plan and a backup treatment in case your first choice isn’t effective. My first aid kits include two treatment options!

3. Coccidiosis—
If you’re raising chicks from hatch, it’s very important to have a treatment for coccidiosis on hand before you need it. Don’t wait to order medicine once symptoms appear. Corid, Pantacox, and Endocox are all options to keep available. My first aid kits come with Corid. 😉

4. Respiratory Illness—
In my experience, Mycoplasma and Coryza are two of the most common respiratory diseases backyard chicken owners encounter. Having supplies ready before you need them can make a huge difference. TiaGard has helped many keepers manage Mycoplasma, and some also use it under veterinary guidance for Coryza. It’s also available in my kits and is easy to find online.

5. Environment—
Too hot. Too cold. Too wet. Too dirty. Environment plays a huge role in flock health! Heat stress is a common cause of sudden death, so provide shade, airflow, fresh water, and fans when needed. During cold weather, keep birds protected from wind and rain. And don’t forget that keeping bedding clean goes a long way toward preventing disease.

If you can prepare for each of these areas, you’ll give your flock the best chance to thrive. Even the most experienced chicken keepers still lose birds from time to time. Sometimes illness progresses quickly, and sometimes we simply don’t catch it soon enough.

Preparation doesn’t guarantee perfection… but it stacks the odds in your flock’s favor.

💗 Tips from your Silkie friend

06/30/2026

We picked up some calico cochin bantam day old chicks on memorial day and they are growing out so nice! Pretty sure out of 7 there are 2 roos, and I'm not mad. The frizzles are so cute 😍