4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[KINK1PH]

I have just got the most beautiful 4 month old silkie.

 

She is very small, although the breed seems small any way. But I need some advice.

She has been fed on wild bird food and I can't work out if I am better off giving her growers or layers pellets. She isn't laying but I don't know when silkies start.

Also do chickens urinate?, I thought not but would swear she did. But she seems alert and healthy and has just discover dust bathing.

I have well and truly fallen in love with her, so please any advice.

Will the wild bird feed actually have any negative effects or am I worrying needlessly. I have started feeding her on 1/2 growers and 1/2 layers)

Any views.

 

Also have my name down for ex batts. Do you think this is a good idea with a silkie, will she be able to hold her own.

[Redwing]

I'd put her on growers pellets for another month or so

 

The wild bird food won't have sone her major harm, I have heard of it being fed to chickens before some of the traditionalists in my local area feed it, one of my young ones came from a home where it was fed and she is fine

[quickcluck]

I'd go for growers too! You could probably get a small 5kg bag...

 

Is she your only hen?

[KINK1PH]

Yes, I really must get her some company.

Do you think she could manage a few ex batts?

I would love to have a couple more silkies, but don't travel and can't find any near by. Anyway it must be wonderful watching ex batts expericnce the outside world.

[quickcluck]

I imagine any company would be fine, but the quicker the better, chooks do not like to be on their own......

 

happy shopping!

[teri]

ex batts should be fine with your silkie. mine lives with two huge light sussex and although she is at the bottom of the pecking order there is no problem with any of them.

good luck and enjoy

[laurmurf]

I have no personal experience of ex-batts but everything I've read says they can be difficult chooks to start out with. Lots of health issues and some bullying potential (think about bringing a bunch of hardened ex-cons who have a different concept of society home to your sheltered girl!)

 

My silkie is very timid and is easily intimidated by the older hybrids, even when they're not noticing him/her. Bear this in mind when you get companions for your girl....

 

until you do get her some friends, how about getting a big mirror up for her in her run to chat to and keep herself company with?

[Janty]

Personally, I wouldn't get ex-batts to live with your silkie. I would get some bantams. My silkie is very young but she is living with girls of about the same age and mostly the same size.

 

Much as I love my ex-batts, they were very vicious when they arrived, having had to fight for everything in their previous life.

 

I think your girl might need a gentler start. Is there a breeder in your area that has some pure breeds of a similar age?

[Egluntyne]

She needs some company, but I wouldn't pitch her in with some exbatts, who although often in a weakened state on release, can at the same time be very aggressive. I'd get her at least one other companion of a similar size to herself first.