Companion advice for 9-week old Silkie w/disability

Two months ago I rescued three silkie chicks--one headed for cull and the other two without great prospects. They have grown healthy, wealthy, and wise (sort of), but two of them turned out to be little roos -- started crowing at eight weeks, developed the head streamers, etc. -- (not permissible in my neighborhood) and have since gone to a new home as potential flock roosters. The last one, clearly smaller and less-developed than the other two and with a crippled leg, remains with us. Not sure if a roo or a hen--its development is definitely stunted, but this wee one is a sweet, social silkie in need of some company now that the two cockerels have gone to new homes.

Any advice on age, type of pullet to introduce as companion to this little one? I can tell (s)he's lonely. Lots of distressed, bewildered peeping every time I leave. (Never peeped when the other two were in with him/her.) I don't want Truffle picked on. It's a fiddly dynamic. Would it be okay to introduce a well-tempered but much older silkie who's definitely a pullet *or* possible other breeds where I can be sure the new one is female?

Any adult chickens or older chicks will probably pick on it. Do you have any other chickens? Chickens don't play nice with strange chickens, so finding it a companion and than getting them to get along is going to be a hard thing. I would try other silkies, keeping the separated through a wire until the become more familiar with each other. Otherwise bantam polish and bantam frizzles are more mellow breeds to consider.

oldhenlikesdogs said:

Any adult chickens or older chicks will probably pick on it. Do you have any other chickens? Chickens don't play nice with strange chickens, so finding it a companion and than getting them to get along is going to be a hard thing. I would try other silkies, keeping the separated through a wire until the become more familiar with each other. Otherwise bantam polish and bantam frizzles are more mellow breeds to consider.

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Agreed - I'm also wondering if another chicken - especially and adult one - would try to eliminate the one with the bad leg since it will be weaker. Animals in general will sometimes try to kill a weaker animal.

I do have other chickens, all adult. I too am concerned about battering of a weak one, which is why I posed the question. I am wondering if a younger chick from a gentle breed might be the way to go. I do have the ability to separate them, as needed, while they become familiar with each other and appropriate shelter for youngsters. My concern about young silkies and Polish is the poorer ability to distinguish sex when they are young. I don't want to bring in another roo I'd have to rehome.

Good news!

My little disabled Silkie,mourning after her two Roo siblings left, stopped eating and drinking. Taking into account the advice above, I went to a breeder I trust and brought home a 3-wk old Buff Orpington chick. Put them together and watched ...and within two minutes the Silkie spread her wings and the Buff chick huddled under her, and now they are inseparable.

Yes, the Buff Orpington will get much bigger, but I am hoping their alliance will hold. I would love for Truffle, the Silkie, to have a kindly ally that will be ostensibly the biggest hen in the flock. We'll see how it plays, but for now, it's thrilling to see the little Silkie, half the size of her roo siblings, come out of her shell (pardon the pun) and be the protector. They are cuddling and trilling to each other as I type this.

That is the cutest thing I ever seen and heard. They should be quite the pair. I would love to hear how it turns out.

That is so sweet! I'm so glad you found her a friend. I adore my buff orpingtons, they are the sweethearts of my flock, I think you'll have good luck even when the buff gets older and bigger.

their soooo cute!!!!!

Just found this thread while searching for an issue I’m having. Just wanted to say, if you’re still around, what a cute story and photos, how did things turn out?

I am still around! Truffle the silkie and Teacake the Buffy had quite the little bonded love story for about six months. But Truffle's disability worsened to a full-blown neurological disorder the following summer. She died in her sleep, leaving a mostly grown Teacake behind. Teacake went on to "mother" another chick, orphaned, so the goodness and the caring lived on. Thanks for asking!