loumabel Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 A friend of mine has asked me to rehome her neighbours White Silkie Bantam with my Bantams. I initially said no as my bantams have had some serious health problems and I didnt want risk infecting a healthy bird. She then told me that its curtains for this little girl if a home is not found for her and now I am in a dilema about what to do. Firstly, is it possible to add one bird to an established gang of 4, secondly could the stress of adding a newbie to my flock trigger further outbreaks of disease in my birds and thirdly is it cruel to possibly expose this little silkie to health problems even though it will be killed if its not rehomed. I am not sure what to do for the best, Thanks Lou X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 First, what sort of health problems do your bantams have? Maybe ask the vet if it's infectious. Secondly, you are well advised to keep any newbie separate for at least a week before even trying introductions - in case they have something nasty. Thirdly, you'll need to do introductions slowly with a lone hen. Maybe others will add to this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 A little silkie would make a lovely addition to your little flock. However I agree with Patricia in that you shouldn't really just push her straight in the deep end, so to speak. Looking at the breeds on your signature I think that she would probably be fine with the Wyandottes as they tend to be gentle girls, but you might want a more careful intro with your little Pekin as they can be feisty. Can you rig up some temporary accomodation for a week? I think it would be worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I don't think it would be too problematic given some temp accommodation as CC suggests above I'd find out why it's being rehomed, it could be a bully or worse.. A cockerel! Silkies cost decent money and are always in demand, if it has a genuine reason to be rehomed, it's quite young and healthy they should be able to rehome it easily, if they can't then I'd be asking what the catch is Also bear in mind that you aren't only risking it's health but also risking stressing out your current birds which may bring underlying problems to the fore again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 thanks everyone for your advice. My girls have had Mycoplasma and I also had one Pekin die of Avian TB, my other girls show no signs of TB but they could potentially have it and there is no way of knowing as there is no reliable way of testing. The lady who is rehoming her birds has 8 ex batts and this one silkie bantam, she has a major rat problem and her solution is to get rid of her flock I definitely cannot take the ex batts although I really wish I could and I think she has found a home for them now but she is finding it difficult to rehome the lone silkie. I hadnt even thought about it being a cockeral so thanks for the warning,probably a really silly question but how could I tell if its a boy??? I think I am talking myself out of the whole thing now and don't want to risk the health of my little bantam s and I had ruled out adding more birds to this flock and was going to let them die out before replacing but I also can't bear the thought of a healthy bird being destroyed. The only alarm bell that rang is that she had three silkies to start with only a year ago and the other two have died!! The silkie was being kept with the ex batts so she must be able to stand up for herself. Sorry for the rambling, I just am not sure what to do for the best, Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Do you know how old the silkie is, they are quite long lived so it would raise alarm bells if two have died already. The males are quite obvious when they are older but I had a boy which had to go back who looked just like the girls - it was only the crowing that gave him away!, but they were still quite young. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 I think she is only just over a year old, so I thought that was worrying that 2 had died already. I don't want to add any new health problems to my flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 They are often very late to crow so can be difficult to know if it's a cockerel. I've got a friend who's just lost one and would love another so shame you're not near here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Silkies are prone to a number of health problems, most notably Mareks disease. The fact that you have had myco in your flock, I wouldn't add this sole Silkie. In addition, Silkies really are a breed that like the company of their own kind, so I think this Silkie would be happiest with other Silkies.... However, if two have died, I'd want to know how and from what as you would not want to risk other hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 If the little Silkie is over a year old then I think that any cockerel signs (crowing or a mulberry comb appearing) would be out by now. I would suspect that the lady has re-homed the ex-bats to someone local who wants eggs and the Silkie is therefore unwanted (they are not great layers). The current owner probably can't be bothered to try too hard to find a home for the Silkie i.e. advertising her properly and just wants rid As the little Silkie has survived whatever killed the other two she will probably now have an immunity and be a sturdy little girl. I'd take her (but keep her apart from the rest of your flock for a wee while just to be on the safe side). Silkies are lovely chooks: pretty, gentle and friendly. On the other hand, if you would really rather not have an extra beak around, then leave well alone. The current owner is probably just saying she will kill the little critter as a form of emotional blackmail. Somone who has taken on ex-bats can surely not be that calous. This is my Silkie boy next to one of his girls, so that you can see what a boy looks like (He is not a perfect example as his comb should be mulberry coloured, not bright red, but you can get the gist, I think) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 (edited) great advice from everyone thanks, I am still undecided. I think you may be right cheaky chook that she is using emotional blackmail to make me take her and it s working If she wasnt threatening to cull this bird I would not take her or any other bird because of the risk of infecting the new bird with Myco and potentially TB too. I have thought about taking her in the short term and putting her in my hospital wing then trying to rehome her with someone suitable myself. ps. Gorgeous silkies CC!!!!!!!!!!!!! Edited January 26, 2012 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 I can't preach as I'd be the first there to take on this chook if it were me. I agree you should be cautious though and find out the background of this hen and check it would be OK to add it to your flock before agreeing to rehome it. I always isolate new hens for 2-3 weeks anyway to make sure they are healthy before slowly introducing them to my girls. Do keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 27, 2012 Share Posted January 27, 2012 Yes please do keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted February 9, 2012 Author Share Posted February 9, 2012 I thought I would give you all an update. I decided after much agonising that I wouldnt take the Silkie, I just thought it would be cruel to expose it to my bantams health problems and also could have made my girls relapse. Luckily another lady has agreed to add her to her little flock so she has gone to a happy home. I do like a happy ending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 Well done loumabel for being so responsible and thanks for giving us the ending Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted February 9, 2012 Share Posted February 9, 2012 That sounds like a good ending for everyone, nice for you to let us know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
