Eglu cube or go up with 2m run

[balti]

Hi,

Have 4 chickens and a cube and want to add 2 silky bantams. Trying to find a cheap eglu to start process off BUT can

anyone advise how long i should keep separate before they can all live in cube happily? Or is it see how they go?

Is there a chance that they wont ever live together? Plus silky bantams...... any issues that i should be aware off?

 

cheers

Trace

[The Dogmother]

See the introductions thread in the FAQ section.

 

Silkie minis can be really quite small, so there will be quite a size difference; be prepared that they may not manage to integrate happily

[Space Chick]

Trace - I would consider getting large fowl silkies as they are large bantam size.

 

These intros can take longer than introducing other large fowl, so patience and time is needed

 

However several of us have managed it successfully

[Falkor]

Hi,

Plus silky bantams...... any issues that i should be aware off?

 

As Space Chick says Silkie Bantams really are quite small and depending on what birds you already have it may be wise to look at the LF version.

 

Issues with silkies:

Persistantly broody and therefore lack of eggs

Don`t like to get wet as not as well protected as their standard feathered pals

Need shelter for the same reasons as above

Those with beards/larger pom poms can be prone to mite/ear infections which due to the nature of the plumage can be difficult to detect until it is fairly developed

More susceptable to myco

All my silkies have an ear piercing shrill grating bok/squawk

 

Pro's too silkies:

They are TOO Cute!!

Very friendly

Easily hand tamed

Good mums

 

Regarding timings of introductions - regardless of breed - it is very much a suck it and see thing. Some chooks are quick to intergrate and some not so much. My quickest intro (after initial quarantine period) has been a week and a half my longest .....well I stopped counting a four months

 

I have LF (chunky Orps and Cochin) and bantams (right down to tiddler Japanese) that all FR happily enough together but a year and a half plus on they still sleep seperately and I wouldn`t pen them in together if I was out.

[balti]

My God,

 

So really thinking that they will eventually on get on nicely in my Cube, isn't really gonna happen..........

 

Well thanks everyone for your input, going to have to think long and hard about this one then!

[Plum]

The large silkies are still smaller than hybrids and very cute

[balti]

Yes have been checking them out. Both black and white ones look cute and about same size as my chickens but they

do say they might get bullied. Am looking at a smaller eglu so might go for it!