Best breeds for silkie companion?

[Chickenen2025]

We adopted a silkie cross-something. Not quite sure what but he/she will need a companion. Still not 100% sure if it's a cockerel or a

hen either. Other than another silkie, what breeds are good with them? Thanks .

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Pretty chicken, whatever it is!

Any bantam or smaller breed bird should be okay. Most of us, though familiar with silkies, would just recommend a person have at least four of them as they're typically very docile birds, and hard to match up with another breed by themselves.

 

[Chickenen2025]

Hi,

Pretty chicken, whatever it is!

Any bantam or smaller breed bird should be okay. Most of us, though familiar with silkies, would just recommend a person have at least four of them as they're typically very docile birds, and hard to match up with another breed by themselves.

Ok, thank you. There are some rock barred pullets that I can get now but not sure if that would be a good fit. This is our only chicken and it needs a friend soonish.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Oh, she is one-of-a-kind adorable! I agree with Debbie; the best option (if you can manage it) is to get her another Silkie friend. Had a couple of Silkie chicks this year, and their demeanor is just so different from the other breeds I've kept. Very calm and relaxed.

Barred Rocks can be hit or miss in the personality department. Every bird's an individual, but I've seen the breed mentioned multiple times as bully culprits. Best to keep them with other large fowl that can hold their own.

 

[Debbie292d]

We adopted a silkie cross-something. Not quite sure what but he/she will need a companion. Still not 100% sure if it's a cockerel or a View attachment 4216725hen either. Other than another silkie, what breeds are good with them? Thanks .

There's a thread on here by me a few years ago when I asked what breed I should get if I want to raise a flock along with my silkie flock.

The overall "winner" was Speckled Sussex, but there were many other suggestions. I wound up raising three until they got to be about two months old. They were everything everyone said, but my heart wasn't into it; it's with silkies. So I sold them.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

So cute! I've got a bantam silkie that I got by mistake. Long story short, I couldn't tell for sure in the bantam bin and thought it might be a black cochin. Oops. Nonetheless, Pippin the silkie has grown on me, and he or she is here to stay. That group is still in the brooder tent in my house. They're 5 weeks old, but I'm integrating 2 other groups outside right now, so one step at a time. I've got the four 5-weekers and three 3-weekers together, and they're doing great. They are all bantams. I hope you find the perfect friend for your cutie soon!

 

[SnackMeat]

I don't think I would go with barred rock because they can be a little too bossy. Most breeds would be fine so long as they are raised up together and you know about the vaulted skull thing so any bullying cannot be tolerated.

My silkie cuddle puddles with two mille fleur leghorns and a gold spangled Hamburg, but that's probably because it's a competition for this one corner that some who don't like to roost like to jam into. It's a competition at night to see who gets prime spot and my silkie normally wins.

She also seems to get along well with some polish that I have. But I haven't noticed any best friends or enemies. She floats around doing her thing and sometimes cuddle puddles with certain flock members if there's a prime spot.


If I was to steer you away I would say absolutely no Rhode Island reds, probably no barred rocks, and probably avoid wyandottes which can be on the bossy side. She was raised up and and seemed to vibe with some half-brahmas but they now all want to roost high almost everywhere even in the middle of the day and obviously a silkie can't do that.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If I was to steer you away I would say absolutely no Rhode Island reds, probably no barred rocks, and probably avoid wyandottes which can be on the bossy side.

These are also on my do-not-purchase list. Maybe I'm typecasting, but there's plenty of other breeds to go with. I'd also add any hybrids that are mixed with Rhode Island Reds (Cinnamon Queens, Golden Comets, etc.)

 

[SnackMeat]

Cinnamon Queens are on my do not buy for other reasons-- because being a high production breed they can have some pretty heinous reproductive health complications and shorter lifespan. I've heard good things about their temperment though

 

[BoundlessLove]

Speckled Sussex
And if you can find them: bantam speckled Sussex