Can you raise Silkies, Polish, and Houdan with standard size birds?

[Norcalnewbie]

I’m getting 9 chicks in April and really wanted 2 Silkies, a Houdan, and a Polish in the mix with a Lavender Orpington, BCM, EE, Ameraucana, and Cochin Bantam. They will all be the same age and will grow up together, so I’m hoping it will establish a firm foundation for a flock, and they will all get along as much as they ever could. I chose the standard breeds for their docile temperaments and ability to get along with other chickens as well as children (although I know you can always get a bad egg).

My question is, am I setting myself up for heartbreak because the smaller exotic breeds will get picked on regardless of how well I set it up, or is there hope that they could all get along as one happy family? I’m mentally prepared to give away the bully or the one who gets picked on if I absolutely have to in order to maintain order, so I feel like it can’t hurt to try I’ll be trimming around the eyes of all of puff heads for better eye sight, which might help slightly. Also, I can possibly scrap the idea of having the Polish and Houdan, but I definitely want my 2 Silkies.

Also, it just occurred to me that chicken math has not been taken into the equation at all and the possibility for disaster with new chickens added to the mix at a later time. I’d love to hear some success stories!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Sure, you just don't want one ctested. Give them a few similar friends so they aren't the only different ones

 

[ChloeSilkie08]

Girl you'll be fine. I have raised 4 silkies with 4 standard chickens and TRUST ME chickens know to stand up for themselves. In fact, one of my silkies is meaner than my standard to the other chickens. Mixed flocks are COMPLETELY fine! If they are raised together then nothing should go wrong.

 

[Norcalnewbie]

Ahh so you’re really telling me to get even MORE crested than I was planning. I’ll be sure to tell my husband.

 

[AOrchard]

I have and have had a wildly mixed flock. Various sizes of bantams, crested, part silkie, and normal large fowl all together. Some non chickens in there too sometimes.

There can be some temporary issues while they sort it out, but overall I've had a lot of good success!

Raise your first batch with mixed birds, get your cresteds! You want lots of exposure to chickens that don't look like themselves early on. IE - it's easier to begin your flock being mixed than to become mixed.

The crested in particular might have a learning curve, as their crust grows in and the other birds jockey for dominance, but they can't see that well. They might get fearful for a couple months, then in my experience that fades as they grow up, go through chicken puberty, and then become happy normal members of the flock. I had one crested for a while, she was the only one, and she followed that pattern. Have some patience, there might be more to work out in a mixed flock, but they'll figure it out.

Here's some pics of happy mixed chickens. Nitro the crested Polish in a ponytail (was a temporary solution while they figured out the basics of the pecking order), enjoying some watermelon with some young americanas phoenixes, and some tiny sebrights.

 

[Norcalnewbie]

Raise your first batch with mixed birds, get your cresteds! You want lots of exposure to chickens that don't look like themselves early on. IE - it's easier to begin your flock being mixed than to become mixed.

Thanks! This is a relief. Have you had issues introducing new birds to your flock and having them pick on the crested?

 

[AOrchard]

When she was comfortable in the flock, then no, if anything she would pick on the new chickens for being new. When she was four or five months old it was more of a problem in general, once she started laying eggs, then she apparently developed some self-confidence and was fine.