Advice how to integrate 3 (small) silkies?

[Moss9924]

I have two mature hens (1 Isa Brown & 1 australorp). I raised 3 silkie chicks and want to eventually merge them all into one coop. I’ve kept the silkies separate and at about 4 months old started putting them together under supervision. The mature hens are constantly bullying the silkies and I don’t think they can safely go in the coop together. It’s been about 2 weeks and hasn’t gotten better. Any tips? Or do I just need to to wait for the silkies to be older?

 

[sourland]

Work on a 'Plan B' just in case it doesn't work. Silkies raised with large fowl generally do okay. Integrating them into an established large fowl flock can be difficult/near impossible.

 

[Moss9924]

Thanks. It’s not working so far but I’ll keep trying. Might it work in reverse? Could I add Isa brown chicks to mature silkies next year?

 

[NatJ]

It’s not working so far but I’ll keep trying. Might it work in reverse? Could I add Isa brown chicks to mature silkies next year?

Yes, that direction might work better, especially if one of the Silkies goes broody and you let her raise the ISA Brown chicks.