Adding one silkie to a flock of three?

[MommA2K]

Today I was asked if I would take a silkie from a friend’s flock. She said her feathers are being plucked from the others, although she hasn’t caught the culprit in the act. She just feels bad for her and wants her to have a better life.

I’m not (or at least wasn’t) looking at adding to my small flock, mostly because my three girls all get along so well, I don’t want to rock the boat so to speak. I have three Speckled Sussex who will be 1year at the end of March, this Silkie is about the same age. I have the space and the means to care for her and I do adore them, but I’m scared to add a single one to an existing flock and I’d hate to screw up the awesome dynamics they have now.

What would you do? If you added to your small flock, did it work out in your favor or was it stressful?
Thank you!

 

[MommA2K]

Pictures of the victim.

 

[Chookchicken]

She’s so cute! But that is not a silkie it’s more like a polish. This is a silkie

I don’t know very much about what to do with polish in terms of introduction to a new flock, sorry.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Do you have space for another bird or two? If yes, do you want a Polish? You realize the problems that this bird is having now may continue with your flock as well, as the unusual head feathers on a Polish often causes them to be victimized by other breeds.

Does your friend have additional Polishes? I would ask for a second to integrate along with the first, so she has a "friend" to help smooth the transition, and to make her not stand out as the only one of her kind.

 

[BleuSaphir]

If you take her in...she end up the same situation.
I don’t know if the owner not providing enough space or keeping them preoccupied without boredom?

 

[sourland]

Polish in mixed flocks frequently have their crests removed/pecked. In your flock as a 'new' bird she would be doubly abused. For a variety of reasons, I would not recommend taking her.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Agree, unless the polish is raised from chickhood with the others, she will continue to have problems. I have two polish that were raised with the rest of my flock. They are at the bottom of the pecking order and keep to themselves for the most part, but fortunately none of the others have picked their feathers out.
Your friends little sweetie needs a polish buddy and her own space it sounds like.

 

[aart]

Polish in mixed flocks frequently have their crests removed/pecked. In your flock as a 'new' bird she would be doubly abused. For a variety of reasons, I would not recommend taking her.

Ditto Dat!

 

[MommA2K]

Thanks everyone! I did a little more research on Polish and came to the same conclusion, it’s best I don’t take her in. I did find something called Rooster Booster and suggested to my friend that she maybe tries that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks everyone! I did a little more research on Polish and came to the same conclusion, it’s best I don’t take her in. I did find something called Rooster Booster and suggested to my friend that she maybe tries that.

Suggest the following to your friend (obviously I don't know what their set up looks like):
- trim the Polish's head feathers so it can see better and doesn't stand out as much as being different
- increase the flock's protein intake which may help reduce feather picking
- add clutter to the set up https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/ to provide hiding spaces and general boredom busting
- rehome the bird to someone else who has existing Polishes, or perhaps Silkies