I have a small mixed-breed flock of 6 hens, and I am moving soon and want to give them to a friend who has 6 hens about the same age.
Most of the advice I find about integrating new chickens is about merging younger chickens, a single chicken, or how to merge chickebs from unknown...
I know a lot of people say Silkies are among the hardest to sex, but I was hoping for a little feedback on this sweetie. Couple of months old, total snuggler (although afraid of her own shadow--think it has something to do with not being able to see well!).
Thoughts?
UPDATE!
Here's the chick now, about a week or so later.
She's nearing 3 weeks (and still small) but she started feathering out and that's promising. Wil she ever catch p or will she aways be on the small side?
EE Adrienne and cochin Sylvia were best friends since chickhood, until Syvia grew into a lovely baby rooster and had to be traded in about a week ago.
Since then, she just cries and cries. My silkie and cochin cchicks (3wk and 1 wk) were too small to go in with her, it seemed, so she continued...
Helps too, i think, that they're all starting out in a new environment so that no one is encroaching on anyone else's territory. That works with cats pretty well.
I just had a similar experience in reverse so I think it would be ok as long as you go about introducing them properly (there are many threads on this).
I just found out that it looks like my 3-4 wk old silkie and 2 mo old EE are going to get along just fine.
After they ate this morning, the...
That you for that hope!
For photos, I have a photobucket account -- www.photobucket.com -- and when you upload pics from your computer it gives you several display/file type options. It translates it into the proper code for webpages, forums, etc.
The type i use for this site is the </IMG> format.
...The silkie is too big for her so she's moved to another brooder next to that one.
I just want chubby, fluffy chickens--is that too much to ask?
I'm glad you think she's starting to thrive! *fingers crossed*
I'll keep hoping, and keep updating. If anyone has advice or experience please...
Definitely get a friend for your silkie! My silkie is by far the neediest chick I've ever owned. I had to separate her from her buddy, a runt, last night and she won't stop crying. The runt got over it in about an hour. The cuddly toy helps, but she's too big for the runt and too small for my...
I've had a few chicks do that. Usually it's the 2-4 weekers. The chicks huddle, and the 5+ week chicks perch.
2-4 weekers just seem to fall over where they are...I've noticed my cochin and RIR used to, and now my 3 week old silkie does that. Usually it's with her head propped against the feeder...
I think at this point, from what I've looked at online, I'm guessing runt over banty because she's just not developing. She looks brand new, from size to leg feathers (which have that stripped Just Hatched look). Wouldn't banties develop normally. or are they slower?
Pics:
She's going on a...
A little cochin I got in trade seemed kind of small, but the last cochin chick I got was a huge, super-round fluff-ball and turned out to be a rooster, and she seemed cheery enough so I thought what the heck.
She's still super small, and at first I thought bantam, but she doesn't really seem to...
It may be a good idea--if you're planning to get chicks and raise them--to have a plan B already laid out for after they grow into chickens. Once they are full grown, they're going to need a lot of space to be happy and comfy.
I recommend reading up on brooders, etc, and getting the class...
This is...well, I don't have a name yet for her! I got her in trade when I traded out my baby cochin rooster Simon. My fiancee wasn't too happy about this, because I left with one 2 month old rooster and came back with a week old cochin and 3wk old Silkie!
I've never had a silkie before, or...
Ok, here goes!
Radclyffe (our punk-rock old bird and very first chicken)
And little Adrienne
at day 1
Making friends
About 3-4 weeks
6-7 weeks
Today! About 2 months, give or take
And visiting with the babies...silkie and (bantam?) cochin. Compared to Radclyffe she stil looks tiny...
I just wanted to say a big thank oyu to everyone that replied to my thread.
Radclyffe the EE appears to be on the rebound!
Basically I just tried everything! Thanks for that crumbles/mash recipe: i had to cut it with milk because she wouldn't eat. Had to use the big syringe into the beak...