chestnutmare Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 Just researching for now, but... I am glad I never sold my Eglu's run and extension. Do Pekins and (bantam) Silkies get along okay? E.g. 2 pekins, 2 bantam silkies. They wouldn't be with my hybrids. Do they attempt to fly? If so, how high? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 18, 2012 Share Posted February 18, 2012 I have 3 pekin bantams and two silkies, all living together in an Eglu with an extended run. They get along very well, and the intros, only last week, went like a dream. The pekins attempt to fly, but don't get very high at all. The Silkies have never attempted to fly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 18, 2012 Author Share Posted February 18, 2012 I have 3 pekin bantams and two silkies, all living together in an Eglu with an extended run. They get along very well, and the intros, only last week, went like a dream. The pekins attempt to fly, but don't get very high at all. The Silkies have never attempted to fly. Great, thank you. When I got the WIR I put the in there. I stored the extended run and then advertised it but so glad it didn't sell now. The plan is to get an Eglu house for the run that is currently stored with no use. The will come out of the WIR and go on the lawn for the bantams and the extended run will come out of storage. Then to buy, probably, a Classic house for the WIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Sounds like a plan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 The one thing I would say is not to go for bantam Silkies, although most Silkies are inbetweenies anyway. Silkies like the company of their own kind so I would get at least 2 Silkies. Pekins can fly a bit... And whilst Silkies don't fly, they can jump My darling little Sue has managed to scare me on a number of occasions with her acrobatics Be prepared for broody city though as Pekins and Silkies are both very broody darlings I don't have any Pekins but you are welcome to visit the Space Chick Silkies if you want mine are 2 large fowl silkies and 4 inbetweenies, so you can get an idea of size compared to your hybrids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Sounds like a great plan. I remember you being keen to get Silkies when I was going on and on about wanting them I really love my 2 Silkie girls, mine are large fowl (not much smaller than my ISA Browns) and so gentle. Looking forward to hearing how things develop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Yes, would be looking to get at least 2 Silkies (needing their own company). Acrobatics?! Maybe I could install some sort of climbing frame in the run. I had my heart set on bantams, ickle ones.... hmmm. I am (sort of) prepared for broody city. Thanks, we have to have a catch up soon. LolaLayla, yes, you see I was plotting my little plan even then! Nice to know you Silkies are so lovely and gentle. Remember that plan of mine? back with original run then getting another Classic for WIR? Well last night, as I lay in bed, I had knocked the 2nd (and last) shed down, and erected a 2nd WIR. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hmm the plot deepens One thing I was surprised about is that although the Silkies are nearly the same size as Lola and Layla their eggs are much smaller and I wonder how small a tiny ones eggs would be....don't know would be an issue for you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Hmm the plot deepens One thing I was surprised about is that although the Silkies are nearly the same size as Lola and Layla their eggs are much smaller and I wonder how small a tiny ones eggs would be....don't know would be an issue for you Good point. Maybe bantam Silkie eggs would be like maltesers. Eggs aren't the main reason for these beauties (but don't tell OH that) but worth considering. How regularly do your Silkies lay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 I would say mine lay every other day until they have laid about 6 eggs and then they go broody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 I would say mine lay every other day until they have laid about 6 eggs and then they go broody That's okay, I know they are going to be broody little things. I wanted miniature silkies with pekins so I'll have to re-think my plan anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 My latest additions are bantam Silkies and are lovely little things I've got them in their own section of the WIR at the minute as they're still quite young but there hasn't been any hassle from my other girls...and my 2 Pekin girls have the most wonderful characters so I don't think you'd have any problems...depending on the individual chickens of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thank you for posting CC. Your girls are absolutely stunning. Yes, I want the miniature ones for sure so if I couldn't have those with pekins I would have to re-think the whole thing. Yours are so cute I could burst!! Where did you get them from? I stumbled across a website/seller in Herefordshire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Your new Silkies are lovely CC CNM - I'd be converting that shed with a wire door and keeping my silkies and pekins in there, they'll stay nice and dry Most silkies are inbetweenies which is great if you want to team them with pekins. Real bantam Silkies are tiny, my three adult ones live in a standard size rabbit hutch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Your new Silkies are lovely CC CNM - I'd be converting that shed with a wire door and keeping my silkies and pekins in there, they'll stay nice and dry Most silkies are inbetweenies which is great if you want to team them with pekins. Real bantam Silkies are tiny, my three adult ones live in a standard size rabbit hutch Oh what a good idea, Redwing! But it'd be dark in there wouldn't it? Hmmm, decisions... Are CC's inbetweenies? (I hope you don't mind me asking, CC, I think they a-ma-zing anyways!!) What are the pekins going to do to bantam silkies anyway - bully? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Pekins can be terrible bullies, if they are going to have their own run anyway I'd try to get them all at a youngish age, say around 12-16 weeks and this should make life easier. Many Silkies are sold as bantams and generally accepted to be bantams it's only when you see the diddy ones that the difference is clear but then the really small ones need a bit more tlc so to be honest the inbetweenies are the way to go If the shed has windows and the door doesn't face north it could be a good bet, you could always remove one or part of one wall and mesh it or make a small run coming off of it and use it as an undercover run - silkies appreciate a bit of extra shelter and pekins always are happier if their feet are dry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Pekins can be terrible bullies, if they are going to have their own run anyway I'd try to get them all at a youngish age, say around 12-16 weeks and this should make life easier. Many Silkies are sold as bantams and generally accepted to be bantams it's only when you see the diddy ones that the difference is clear but then the really small ones need a bit more tlc so to be honest the inbetweenies are the way to go If the shed has windows and the door doesn't face north it could be a good bet, you could always remove one or part of one wall and mesh it or make a small run coming off of it and use it as an undercover run - silkies appreciate a bit of extra shelter and pekins always are happier if their feet are dry The standard sized silkies, I thought, are about the same size as my white star. I saw a standard size silkie in a pet shop and they looked quite big to me. I mentioned the shed idea to my OH and he said no . I may to be able to work on him though. What he has said yes to the and run. That would go in a very thick woodchip area, which is edged with log/lawn edging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Large fowl silkie females weigh just under 1.5kg and the bantam females just 500g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Here are some photos of my girls that I took today to try to show you the large fowl Silkie size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ah thank you LL for doing that for me. They are beauties mind, I like your white ones... but you obviously wash them in Daz!! They are not quite the same size as your warren, aren't they? Do your hybrids bully them? Do you have your hybrids in one eglu and the silkies in the next? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Thank you, they are lovely little things Mine were sold as Bantam Silkies but I think they may be inbetweenies? Tasha, how teeny is teeny? Same size as my D'Anvers? I got them from a lovely lady in Peterborough Sammiboo got hers from this lady too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Ah thank you LL for doing that for me. They are beauties mind, I like your white ones... but you obviously wash them in Daz!! They are not quite the same size as your warren, aren't they? Do your hybrids bully them? Do you have your hybrids in one eglu and the silkies in the next? They seem to manage to keep themselves clean They are a bit smaller but it was hard to take a photo when they were the same distance away for you to judge properly. You can see their size next to the eglu door. They are certainly wary of the hybrids and Lola in particular will occasionally run at them if they get too close but the wing grabbing and pecking (which was minimal) has passed. They free range together. At the moment the hybrids are in one eglu and the silkies in the other. The hybrids have used the silkies nest box though but not the other way round. I am not sure when I can let them settle at night together. As there is no rush I will leave it for a while. OH says I should maybe keep the 2 eglu set up but it would be 'neater' to have the one. Also it means if I have to take them to a friends if we go on holiday I could easily set up the spare eglu at her house. Probably it is easier though to get someone to come here to check on them. I think silkies are great and they have really lovely voices too....sorry you will probably think I am mad but they sort of burble Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Peterborough may be a little too far from S Wales. But I don't mind travelling a little way. They are lovely CC! LL, thanks for the size info. No I don't think you are mad at all... well, no madder than me anyway. They sound so sweet. I'm just worried pekins will bully them now. The large fowl silkies are definitely growing on me!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted February 19, 2012 Share Posted February 19, 2012 Just closed them up for the night. They have their set routine. The silkies always are early to bed. Then when it comes to Lola and Layla, Layla always goes to bed first and sits in the nest box and eventually Lola retires. Tonight I noticed that the silkies had gone to bed and Lola was trying to go into their eglu too. She had a look in and then must have realised she had made a mistake and hot footed it round to the other eglu where Layla was already in residence. I wondered if Lola would attempt to shove in with the silkies but decided against it. I was glad to see there was no nastiness Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted February 19, 2012 Author Share Posted February 19, 2012 Just closed them up for the night. They have their set routine. The silkies always are early to bed. Then when it comes to Lola and Layla, Layla always goes to bed first and sits in the nest box and eventually Lola retires. Tonight I noticed that the silkies had gone to bed and Lola was trying to go into their eglu too. She had a look in and then must have realised she had made a mistake and hot footed it round to the other eglu where Layla was already in residence. I wondered if Lola would attempt to shove in with the silkies but decided against it. I was glad to see there was no nastiness There is hope yet then to get them in an Eglu together. Then you can buy a Cube...and then add some more. My dilema now is: or . Yes I know pink's not cool for everyone but I'm not everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
