Can 1 battery hen and 1 bearded silkie live together?

[posandneg]

Hello all!

We are new to wanting chickens and would like to purchase some next week....we've read up and gained advice on looking after the birds however not on whether different breeds are OK to live together?

We'd really appreciated some advice on whether a battery hen can live with a bearded silkie? Ideally we're only after 2 hens as we have a small garden and would like to be able to move the run around so they can make the most of the grass. Also are you able to buy a single hen? Or would 2 battery hens be ok with one silkie? I don't want any to get bullied but we aren't keen to get anymore than 3 max.

Really sorry if these sound like really stupid questions to ask but would rather know now than making the mistake of trying to force 2 different hens to live together...don't want them to be sad!

Thankyou in advance

 

[teach1rusl]

Almost any chickens you get that didn't hatch or grow up together are going to fight a bit initially to establish pecking order. Most will do this without bloodshed being involved. Ages of birds will make a difference too - you would want them to be of compatible ages (not a 3 mo. old with a 3 yr. old in your situation). My silkies run with my LF with no issues; my silkies are above some of my LF and below others (age dependent in my flock's case). Now, some breeds are more aggressive than others. Do you know what breed the rescue bird is??? And no, I would never keep a single chicken in a coop/run - I just think that would be a very lonely life, because they are flock animals. JMO.

 

[tweetysvoice]

I have three silkies that run with 4 LF and they get along with no problems what so ever. The silkies are about 6 weeks younger than the LF and the LF pecked at them a bit at the beginning, but you'll be amazed at how strong and bullheaded the silkies are. They just run away and then run right back to what they were doing.

 

[teach1rusl]

...you'll be amazed at how strong and bullheaded the silkies are. They just run away and then run right back to what they were doing.

Ain't that the truth! LOL!

Silkies are scrappers - mine will "growl" and carry on to bluff their way into grabbing treats among my top LF hens. I think it confuses my LF hens, so they let them get away with it...hehee...

 

[posandneg]

Great thankyou for your message! We definatly want 2 hens so they have company its more that we wanted one of one breed and one of the other. Glad that Silkies can hold their own though!