cluckbok Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hi everyone, 9 days ago we introduced 2 hybrids and 1 silkie to our 1 columbine hen. The usual pecking started taking place immediately by our 1 existing hen, a couple of days later she accepted 1 of the hybrids and then a couple of days after that she accepted the other one, with only the odd peck here and there. She is letting them share all the food and water etc. But she has it in for the silkie and she's pecked at her neck and pulled some feathers out and there is a wound there, it's not bleeding but looks like it had a little. I have brought the silkie indoors and will not be mixing her again with the others, she's in a cat cage afternight. She's been eating and drinking and seems ok but her neck looks really sore, she has settled down for the night and seems alright. I have called the breeder to see if we can swap her out but no answer at the moment. He told us they should be ok but the silkie cannot hold her own. We may well try and buy another hen house and run and get another silkie and just keep the silkies on their own. Does anyone on here keep silkies together as a seperate flock?? We put them in together as we don't have any alternative outdoor accomodation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 When I got four new girls a couple of weeks ago one of them was a silkie. I gave her to my friend who keeps smaller hens such as pekins and sablepoots. I didn't think the silkie would be able to hold her own against the big girls. Canyn you keep trying the breeder as she may swap her for you. I do have three silkie crosses who are fine with the others. Good luck whatever you decide to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 We seriously thinking of keeping her, we attached to her already! I want her to heal over then get her a friend (silkie) and put them both in a completely new house and run so it's neutral territory. Do you think that's a good idea? We were going to get an extension on our eglu run but there would be no need now anyway, so the money could be put towards a new hen house and run placed close to the old one, but free range the flocks seperately. The runs would be big enough for them not necessarily to free range all the time. Oh dilemmas! I just hope our little Flump will be ok. I am going to go out tomorrow and get some purple spray! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffy chick Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hi I have silkies but haven't had to introduce any, I heard they can get picked on because they can't see!! Perhaps a hair cut would help? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 Nine days is no time for an introduction. I think I hold the record -9 months to integrate 2 newbies into an established trio! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Hi her hair isn't in her face at all, she just can't stand up for herself which I did wonder but the breeder said she be fine, which she isn't. I couldn't possibly have left her where she was. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I'm afraid some breeders are very blase about introductions. I'd get her a Silkie friend and let them grow a bit. You may be able to integrate a pair more successfully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted February 28, 2011 Share Posted February 28, 2011 I have silkie amogst my flock she is bottom of the pecking order but dosen't get bullied I introduced her with a cochin and a milleflour pekin and took it very slowly seperate accomodation where they could be seen and the big girls could FR around them only after some months when the big girls had lost interest in them did I slowly begin to do supervised FR they all live in harmony now but I do believe slowly is the best way especially with littlies. I you check my sig you will see I am currently going through the same process with a frizzle and cochin I am in no hurry only when I think the time is right will I start supervised FR with a view to intergration. It can be done but does require patience and perseverance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Yeah it sounds more stress free doing it that way, we had no alternative accomodation. However we now think we will get Flump a new house and a new friend of her own size and put the two together on the same day in the new house. For now Flump is seperated to be given time to heal. I hope she be ok. She's settled down fine for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted February 28, 2011 Author Share Posted February 28, 2011 Do u all think introducing another silkie to our existing silkie in a brand new house and run to them both, would be ok? Once our injured silkie is better that is. We can't put her back with the big girls now, she needs a friend of her own size. Do u think this would be ok, so we would have just the two silkies in their own accomodation away from the big girls but within sight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 Do u all think introducing another silkie to our existing silkie in a brand new house and run to them both, would be ok? Once our injured silkie is better that is. We can't put her back with the big girls now, she needs a friend of her own size. Do u think this would be ok, so we would have just the two silkies in their own accomodation away from the big girls but within sight. If you have the space, then that'd be ideal! Introducing one to one, especially when the 'established' hen is low ranking should be fairly easy going...perhaps give your current silkie a day or two in the new house, then even if the new silkie is a more dominant character, she'll be going into another hens space so will be more submissive. Hope it all works out!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 It should be fine silkies's are such laid back little creatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted March 1, 2011 Author Share Posted March 1, 2011 Thanks guys, we now thinking of getting another two silkies to go with our Flump (partridge silkie). I would like a black one and a blue one, the white ones get too dirty quickly Then all three go into the new house on the same day I think that would be ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevf1 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 i intrroduced 2 warrens which we already had to 1araucauna 1vorwerk 1 barnvelder 1 friesan 1 leghorn 1 appenzeller so far few feathers the warrens seem to have accepted them all.. although still some pecking going on.. the only one who doesn;t do much is the barnvelder... but i think the advantage i had was put them all into the new run togehter... the leghorn gets bullied most by the warrens and has lost a couple of feathers but generally they seem ot be getting on with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenNutter Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I am on the 6th week of introducing a Silkie and a much smaller Wyandotte to two other bantams (and originally a full size Welsummer ) I think Silkies diefintiely are a target in a mixed flock, as they are so very docile - they just don't seem to be able to stand up for themselves, or even work out how to dodge the bullies. Mine was an immediate target, so much so that the little Wyandotte, tiny at only 12 weeks old stood up for herself more than the full size Silkie, and even goes and 'rescues' the silkie when she is cornered by the others - she hears the silkie shouting and she rushes over to her also shouting and 'collects' her and takes her to safety! It is very sweet to watch. Now Ruby is gone, the others are starting to integrate, but the Silkie, Lilo Lil is definitely bottom of the pecking order and has to wait for ages for her turn at the food, despite several feeders being available - the dominant chooks constantly chase her off all of the feeders all the time, even the ones they are not eating from. I think you can integrate them with some birds, but I would be hesitant to include them with full size chooks, particularly some breeds. Although I am sure there will be Omleteers who have them in large bird mixed flocks with no problems! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
serekunda80 Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Thats a good idea to get flump her own kind, we had a silkie cockerel with some battery hens, they ended up bullying him and he took him out cos he went into him self and lost some wait, when we then got him some silkie ladies he certainly improved, and he was like the cat that got the cream. hoping for some silkie chicks one day, as he hasn't quite mastered the art of mating, it's funny to watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I have heard that Silkies are ok with other breeds that have hair does e.g. Frizzles and Polands or have a gentle nature e.g. Orpingtons. My little flock of 4 Silkies and 2 Frizzles (one is a Polandx, the other a tiny true Frizzle) have got along really well. This week I have added 2 Bantam Wyandottes as I had heard they are gentle. Touch wood all is going well but I'm keeping a close watch when they FR together. My little gold Silkie is deffinitely wary of the Wyandottes but the little white one is well able to hold her own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
