Gisselle
In the Brooder
- Mar 2, 2018
- 19
- 27
- 29
So, our story started with bringing home 4 baby chicks of various breeds this past spring as egg layers and fun yard pets. When those chicks were half grown we also obtained 3 day old silkie chicks.
Long story short, during this past spring we had a family of FOUR big hawks that terrorized our chickens and weren’t afraid of us really. It was getting too stressful anytime I was out in the yard to -constantly- be shooting away hawks flying low or perching in the yard. Their territory was our property
• During this time one of our Orpington hens completely disappeared and we could never find her. She was gone for 3 entire months
• We presumed a hawk finally got her and it was so sad - we rehomed the other hens and just kept the 3 silkies since they could tolerate confinement safely in a pen.
when suddenly my next door neighbor found her in her yard - (after no sign for 3 months!) perfectly healthy and unhurt!
So now “Helen” the Orpington, is mixed with our flock of silkies and we love her! (Looking like the odd one out too!) The pecking order is still kinda off. It’s been probably a month since we got Helen back, she started laying the day after we got her back. She fought with the silkies a little but they tolerate each other and kept to themselves mostly now. She BEATS up our silkie rooster if he tries to mate or otherwise charges her.
* I mention all this because I wonder if it might hold a clue to -why- my one silkie hen who use to be the sweetest, calmest one out of the three suddenly will aggressively peck your hand if you want to pet her and she will peck your feet too if they get too close. The worst part is the behavior is unpredictable. Sometimes she will be in a “mood” and other times she’ll be docile. She is not broody and no silkie is laying right now - my roo is crowing and just super high strung. He will also peck your hand viciously if you try to pet him or pick him up. I’ve had roosters before of other standard large breeds and I know how dangerous they can be and how much it hurts to get attacked and I hope he doesn’t turn into a mean rooster -
My daughter who is almost 2 LOVES to pick up the silkies. She only picks up the ‘sometimes’ docile hen named ‘Soot’ - and I assure you - she is very careful and gentle and I supervise her. But lately Soot has pecked my daughter hard on the hand and hurt her feelings and made her cry.... and today one of them pecked her and left a mark on her face!! If you are reaching for one of the hens while the rooster is standing with the group he will freak out and peck at you thinking you are trying to get him.
• Soot also pecks my husband and me! Not in a “oops I thought you had a treat” either - I know the difference.
Why are my silkies getting mean?? They have NOT been mistreated or teased as I NEVER allow that with these birds.
As far as the rooster “Snow”.. I’ve heard of the picking them up to show whose boss. But how do you do that when he’s naturally flighty and doesn’t let you pick him up? He’s been that way since he was a chick.
My Orpington “Helen” is sweeter and more predictable than these silkies. She never shows any aggression to us... she even lets my daughter pick her up even though she is soo big!
Our chickens range in our entire fenced backyard and have lush wild grass, shade and plenty of space to get away from each other
Please let me know your thoughts....
Long story short, during this past spring we had a family of FOUR big hawks that terrorized our chickens and weren’t afraid of us really. It was getting too stressful anytime I was out in the yard to -constantly- be shooting away hawks flying low or perching in the yard. Their territory was our property
• During this time one of our Orpington hens completely disappeared and we could never find her. She was gone for 3 entire months
• We presumed a hawk finally got her and it was so sad - we rehomed the other hens and just kept the 3 silkies since they could tolerate confinement safely in a pen.
when suddenly my next door neighbor found her in her yard - (after no sign for 3 months!) perfectly healthy and unhurt!
So now “Helen” the Orpington, is mixed with our flock of silkies and we love her! (Looking like the odd one out too!) The pecking order is still kinda off. It’s been probably a month since we got Helen back, she started laying the day after we got her back. She fought with the silkies a little but they tolerate each other and kept to themselves mostly now. She BEATS up our silkie rooster if he tries to mate or otherwise charges her.
* I mention all this because I wonder if it might hold a clue to -why- my one silkie hen who use to be the sweetest, calmest one out of the three suddenly will aggressively peck your hand if you want to pet her and she will peck your feet too if they get too close. The worst part is the behavior is unpredictable. Sometimes she will be in a “mood” and other times she’ll be docile. She is not broody and no silkie is laying right now - my roo is crowing and just super high strung. He will also peck your hand viciously if you try to pet him or pick him up. I’ve had roosters before of other standard large breeds and I know how dangerous they can be and how much it hurts to get attacked and I hope he doesn’t turn into a mean rooster -
My daughter who is almost 2 LOVES to pick up the silkies. She only picks up the ‘sometimes’ docile hen named ‘Soot’ - and I assure you - she is very careful and gentle and I supervise her. But lately Soot has pecked my daughter hard on the hand and hurt her feelings and made her cry.... and today one of them pecked her and left a mark on her face!! If you are reaching for one of the hens while the rooster is standing with the group he will freak out and peck at you thinking you are trying to get him.
• Soot also pecks my husband and me! Not in a “oops I thought you had a treat” either - I know the difference.
Why are my silkies getting mean?? They have NOT been mistreated or teased as I NEVER allow that with these birds.
As far as the rooster “Snow”.. I’ve heard of the picking them up to show whose boss. But how do you do that when he’s naturally flighty and doesn’t let you pick him up? He’s been that way since he was a chick.
My Orpington “Helen” is sweeter and more predictable than these silkies. She never shows any aggression to us... she even lets my daughter pick her up even though she is soo big!
Our chickens range in our entire fenced backyard and have lush wild grass, shade and plenty of space to get away from each other
Please let me know your thoughts....