chickenNutter Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Been fighting Morehens disease since competion of the WIR back in the summer, but was offered a free silkie by my hairdresser's in-laws. Rude not to say no I thought, and so she is arriving tomorrow. I have my second eglu and run ready, and I am planning on initially popping her in there, along with my top chook Hettie. I was going to get another bantam to introduce at the same time to my existing flock of 3. Now having second thoughts about two more as our garden is very small. The walk-in run is only about 4 metres by just over two metres, and space is taken up by having currently one, and potentially two eglus on the floor. What do you think? Is the run big enough for four bantams and one Welsummer? They do free range when I am in, but it is only a tiny garden. In a bit of a quandry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I wouldn't put a silkie in with an existing hen, 2 new ones will have more chance of standing up for themselves Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 How lovely - I do like Silkies I agree that two new ones would be better (the run should be just fine) If you do want to put one of yours in with the new one rather than buy two then keep the new one on her own for a week for isolation then introduce the other one - dont make it your top chook - the middle one or lowest one would be better Lastly check the new one over carefully, treat it for lice and mites and when you introduce the second one be vigilent for bullying and the cynic in me says check its a girl especially if its young as Silkies are very hard to sex young!! its not often that perfectly healthy chooks are gifted so do keep a close eye out for any problems during the isolation period Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue-DiamondChick07 Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Silkies are just fab! My Cilla is such a great girl, and lays brilliant white eggs. Good luck with the intros Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Silkies are sweet as sweet. Their gentle nature, however, can mean that they get bullied so I do think it would be kinder to introduce two newbies together to your flock (after checking that they are healthy). Now there's an excuse. As for the small garden, why not regard the whole of it as a WIR? That's what we do with our, typical terraced house garden. Our neighbour is so impressed with how this works that she is planning on getting some chooks and doing the same thing. I can't wait to be able to 'talk chicken' over the fence You do have to forget about grass, however, if you do this, and think climbers for the sides and big pots of flowers, as on a patio, for colour. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 21, 2011 Author Share Posted January 21, 2011 Gosh thanks everyone - think I will get another chook, was thinking of an Amber Star or Blue Ranger from Happy Chicks, as they state that both are placid. What do you think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 I'd get a bantam - my orpington and wyandotte are very placid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 21, 2011 Share Posted January 21, 2011 Gosh thanks everyone - think I will get another chook, was thinking of an Amber Star or Blue Ranger from Happy Chicks, as they state that both are placid. What do you think? Kate, my Bluebelle (what HC are calling a blue ranger by the look of it) was a mahoosive girl but very friendly. I'd go for a bantam if it was me given the area you have and the size of your other girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Cheers Anne, I agree, I'm on the case! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Cheers Anne, I agree, I'm on the case! Let me know when I can come round for a viewing and a brew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Well Scarlettohara, I took your advice and got a partridge (gold barred?) Wyandotte bantam! She is only 12 weeks, so quite diddy but very sweet. The Silkie arrived today too - she is gorgeous! I was out when she arrived as I was working, but had set up the spare eglu and run, and left instructions with OH for settling in. By the time I finished working and went to pick up the Wyandotte, and got home, it was nearly dark. My existing 3 girls had gone to bed in the eglu in the WIR, but the poor silkie was sitting on a log looking very folorn, she didn't realise the eglu was for roosting! I quietly put the Wyandotte in and then ushered her in too and shut the door. There was some cheeping from the Wyandotte at first, but they are now quiet. Fingers crossed! Can't wait for tomorrow, I will be up at the crack of dawn to play chickens all day. Anne, come round any time for a brew and a chicken and WIR viewing. Naming day tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Lovely - sure they will be the best of friends tomorrow. My dotte is gold laced and very sweet and squeaked a lot when I got her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 Yes, squeaking is a good description, it was really sweet! I'm going to bed early to make tomorrow come sooner. (how sad) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Not at all, have fun and don't forget the pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 I'm going to bed early to make tomorrow come sooner. (how sad) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Looking forward to seeing them tomorrow Kate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 What colour is your silkie, they are such sweet little things and I love their topknots. Hope she settles in well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 22, 2011 Author Share Posted January 22, 2011 She is white, so pretty (well I think so, anyway). I just looked in on them through the egg port door of the eglu, and they are both perched side by side on the edge of the nestbox all cuddled up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted January 22, 2011 Share Posted January 22, 2011 Oh how lovely, the White ones are so pretty, you must post a photo! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted January 23, 2011 Author Share Posted January 23, 2011 I let them out this morning and straight away the Silkie, who I have named Lilo Lil, as she looks such a tart with all those flashy feathers went into gaurding the food mode, and not letting the Wyandotte , who I have named Dot, anywhere near, naughty mare. I have now put a second pair of feeders/drinkers in and peace reigns, in fact Dot is nearer the main feeders at the moment so hopefully Lilo Lil has given up guarding it! I will try to post some pictures later today. Off to play now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted January 23, 2011 Share Posted January 23, 2011 Brilliant name I thought silkies were mild little things she sounds a bit fiesty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 24, 2011 Share Posted January 24, 2011 So how is it going today? Do tell us. At the weekend I went to see some hens (but was good as gold and did not get any as I am holding out till the Reading bantam day at the end of Feb). The place in question had a little white Silkie hen and a very glamorous white Silkie cockerel. There were also some hybrids including a very glamorous Bluebell that my partner rather liked. I was amazed how very much bigger the Bluebell was than the Silkies and yet the Silkies seemed a lot bigger than, say, Pekins. We both wondered how tall a Brahma must be in comparison. To think that most people think that a chicken is just a chicken Size in the hen world seems to be just as varied as in the dog world with Yorkies and Great Danes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 I inherited a lovely white silkie called Priscilla. I didnt take to her at first as she was very moody (and broody as it turned out) and kept pecking at me when I tried to pick her up. She is now my favourate little girl and I absolutley adore her. She has such a gentle nature and I love picking her up for a cuddle. She's also very good with kids, so is great for intrducing to kids who've never met a chicken before. Cant recommend silkies enough and I would love to have more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted January 25, 2011 Share Posted January 25, 2011 I would love a Silkie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Gosh thanks everyone - think I will get another chook, was thinking of an Amber Star or Blue Ranger from Happy Chicks, as they state that both are placid. What do you think? Kate, my Bluebelle (what HC are calling a blue ranger by the look of it) was a mahoosive girl but very friendly. I'd go for a bantam if it was me given the area you have and the size of your other girls My bluebelle has grown from a tiny little thing with huge legs into the largest hen of the flock - as she's not too bright, her role is more as the top hen's 'henchman'... She's quite friendly but does like to go off and do her own thing half of the time. I'd recommend Happy Chicks any time - we shopped there with the last lot of hens we got and they could not have been more helpful. If I remember rightly, Bluebelle is a trademarked breed name (though the name of the breeder licensed to use escapes me) hence the generic 'blue ranger' - the same thing applies for Speckledy/Speckled Star and for Gingernut Rangers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
