Adding Silkies to Flock

[packobeagles]

I wanted to give an update. I followed Funky's advice and pulled the Aussies for 6 days then slowly introduced them back in. The Aussie that is the lowest on the pecking order was still chasing them and pecking a bit but the more aggressive Aussie calmed down. So, I have monitored them closely over the last week and have started spraying the Aussies with a super soaker if they got too violent. Well, that has worked wonders! Now the Silkies can be out and about and the big girls generally ignore them. If one of the big girls get close in a non threatening way the Silkies still run for dear life so now I think it is about them gaining a little confidence. The Silkies have actually bonded with the Brahama. When they are out free ranging in the yard I often find the Brahma and Silkies in one place and the Aussies and Polish in another. I have even seen the Silkies preening the Brahama!
So, I think all will work out. Especially as they get bigger over the next few months. Now I am just trying to keep the Silkies from sleeping in the nest boxes, lol.

Thank you everyone for your help!!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Glad things are getting better for you!

 

[packobeagles]

Well, I have been blocking off the nest boxes when the big ladies are done laying for the day. The silkies have started to roost! Hopefully in a couple weeks I can stop blocking the nest boxes
Now, one of my big girls is limping....it is always something, lol

 

[getreal]

well after reading this thread I'm very discouraged. I have 9 leghorn hens, 15 months old. I bought 3 olive eggers and 9 silkies in april. I was told by the breeder I could put the silkies in with the flock. They are so small yet. I have had them in the coop in a separate pen. 2 of the olive eggers are in with the flock now. the other one is smaller so I have it in with the silkies. I am afraid to introduce those into the flock. My leghorns can be very hateful to each other at times. How big will the silkies get? I think I've been duped. not a good picture, but this how big they are. that's one of the olive eggers on the outside.

 

[packobeagles]

I have a small flock. 3 standards and 2 silkies. I did get them integrated last year after pulling the bully australorp out for two weeks and keeping her isolated from the flock then reintroduced her. She still gets mean sometimes but the silkies are fine as long as they have a place to run to. They are small and quick. The silkies are just over a pound probably. They are over a year old and they are very little. Always squeezing thru the smallest gaps and going where they shouldn't. BTW, my girls are in a run and free range the yard a couple hours a day.
Oh, and my two silkies go broody every 20-30 days at the same time. So, good luck with 9! lol Hopefully yours won't have the broody gene as strong as mine.

Ok, so on to your flock. Are they in a large run or free range? Are there places for the silkies to get away from the big girls? Also, introducing 10 new birds to the flock may overwhelm the big girls and it may not be too bad. It looks like you have them in with the big girls but in their own pen?? Do the big girls pretty much ignore them now?
I honestly think as long as you have a big enough space and places for the silkies to hide you will be ok.

 

[getreal]

I have a small flock. 3 standards and 2 silkies. I did get them integrated last year after pulling the bully australorp out for two weeks and keeping her isolated from the flock then reintroduced her. She still gets mean sometimes but the silkies are fine as long as they have a place to run to. They are small and quick. The silkies are just over a pound probably. They are over a year old and they are very little. Always squeezing thru the smallest gaps and going where they shouldn't. BTW, my girls are in a run and free range the yard a couple hours a day.
Oh, and my two silkies go broody every 20-30 days at the same time. So, good luck with 9! lol Hopefully yours won't have the broody gene as strong as mine.

Ok, so on to your flock. Are they in a large run or free range? Are there places for the silkies to get away from the big girls? Also, introducing 10 new birds to the flock may overwhelm the big girls and it may not be too bad. It looks like you have them in with the big girls but in their own pen?? Do the big girls pretty much ignore them now?
I honestly think as long as you have a big enough space and places for the silkies to hide you will be ok.

they have a run that is about 10x14 and a tractor that is 10x15. the silkies are in a pen inside the coop which is 8x8. it's kind of confusing. I have a 4x3x3.5 pen built that sits inside the pen. it was divided in half for the 2 olive eggers on one side the 8 silkies and one smaller oliver egger on the other side. we put our nesting boxes on top of that. the roost is about 6 ft long and about 14" high, that runs on the opposite wall. I extended the lil ones pen with some wire so they have more room. the olive eggers pen door is open so they can come and go now. they still retreat to the pen when scared. I will be leaving the pen inside the coop so they will have that to go into. they have been in the coop for at least 3 weeks now. the big girls more or less ignore them and hasn't bothered the 2 olives at all that I have seen. If it's all too confusing i can take a few pics. thank you

 

[packobeagles]

Well, at this point it sounds like you can give it a go on a day you can monitor them. There will be a little chasing/pecking as they are establishing order but it should work out as long as it is not too violent.

 

[Free Feather]

You never see just how vicious your sweet pet chickens are until you plop a silkie into the yard.

 

[getreal]

well I did it...I opened the pen with a small opening so the silkies could go back and forth on Sunday. So far what I have noticed is, the leghorns aren't sure what they are. LOL they run and jump when the silkies coming running past them. The biggest olive egger is the one who likes to peck. I think it is a cockeral. so it could be he wants to keep them in line or he wants his fill of the food before he lets them? I'm just guessing here. when I got the chance, when he would peck one I would tap him behind the head with the handle of the broom I was using. I don't know if this is of any use or not but...I have one broody leghorn. she will peck them if they get too close. she pecks me too. I was surprised to find her laying on an egg on the floor yesterday. usually she is in a nesting box. none of the little ones make any attempt at going out in the run so far. I still have starter/grower food in small feeders for the chicks until it's gone. but maybe I should just put all the food in the tubes. would that stop the pecking, do you think? I use All Flock for the hens. the guy at tsc said since the chicks are 2 1/2 months old I can give it to them also. I have grit and calcium free choice.I also scatter scratch/black sunflowers in the run, and have been putting just scratch on the floor in the coop. Anything I should be doing differently? thanks for all the help. my husband says it's a good thing you are here or I would keep the silkies separated forever. lol

 

[Hholly]

I have a flock of all bantams and had a similar situation to yours by adding silkies. I had to rehome my aggressive hen who attacked them mercilessly. Even after having the silkies in a pen inside the coop for weeks, and penning up the aggressive hen for a week, she still attacked them at every opportunity. Now everyone more or less gets along.
I hope your Aussies learn, but they may not. Good luck!