If these questions have been asked before, I'm sorry. I did use the search bar, but didn't find anything that helped.
The first question is mine. I have a group of six silkie chicks that are growing out. The older group (about a 5 weeks old) consists of one white, one paint, one black, and two blues. Last week, I bought another addition, another paint (two weeks old now). Since I only had one little one, and no other container to put the little baby in, I tried integrating it with the older babies. The white eyed the baby paint as if it could be potential food. The others stayed away from it. (I was watching closely, so no worries.) To my surprise, the white immediately took to the baby paint, and the baby paint just follows the white everywhere. I walk in the check on them, and they are always together, eating, snuggling, playing. Yesterday, I was watching and documenting what I was seeing. I picked up the baby paint (growing nicely), and it seemed like the white was in a little bit of distress. The others didn't really give a crap as long as I wasn't bothering them. I put the paint down and picked up the white. Again, the white was in distress while trying to keep an eye on the paint. I had an extra set of hands helping me, and she picked up the baby and held it close to the white, and immediately the white settled down. Has any one ever witness this, or is it just me making a big deal out of nothing? The white was supposed to go to my mother-in-law after it gets old enough, and the paint is mine. Should they stay together, or do you think they can be separated?
This second question is for my mother. When I bought the baby paint mentioned above, my mom was with me. She has 5 red productions, and she was wanting to add one or two to her flock. My mom ended up getting a 6 month old Ameraucana. I have heard that once the chicks are over a certain age, they shouldn't be attempted to integrate, but she wanted to try it since she saw this perfect Ameraucana she fell in love with. Of course, her flock didn't take too well to the new addition. Betsy Ross (she named the Ameraucana) has been in a crate (separated comfortably) inside the coop with the reds. To no avail, when they are out of the coop, Betsy better not get any where near the reds or she will be pecked to death. Is there any chance the reds will accept her?
Thank you for your time and replies! <3
The first question is mine. I have a group of six silkie chicks that are growing out. The older group (about a 5 weeks old) consists of one white, one paint, one black, and two blues. Last week, I bought another addition, another paint (two weeks old now). Since I only had one little one, and no other container to put the little baby in, I tried integrating it with the older babies. The white eyed the baby paint as if it could be potential food. The others stayed away from it. (I was watching closely, so no worries.) To my surprise, the white immediately took to the baby paint, and the baby paint just follows the white everywhere. I walk in the check on them, and they are always together, eating, snuggling, playing. Yesterday, I was watching and documenting what I was seeing. I picked up the baby paint (growing nicely), and it seemed like the white was in a little bit of distress. The others didn't really give a crap as long as I wasn't bothering them. I put the paint down and picked up the white. Again, the white was in distress while trying to keep an eye on the paint. I had an extra set of hands helping me, and she picked up the baby and held it close to the white, and immediately the white settled down. Has any one ever witness this, or is it just me making a big deal out of nothing? The white was supposed to go to my mother-in-law after it gets old enough, and the paint is mine. Should they stay together, or do you think they can be separated?
This second question is for my mother. When I bought the baby paint mentioned above, my mom was with me. She has 5 red productions, and she was wanting to add one or two to her flock. My mom ended up getting a 6 month old Ameraucana. I have heard that once the chicks are over a certain age, they shouldn't be attempted to integrate, but she wanted to try it since she saw this perfect Ameraucana she fell in love with. Of course, her flock didn't take too well to the new addition. Betsy Ross (she named the Ameraucana) has been in a crate (separated comfortably) inside the coop with the reds. To no avail, when they are out of the coop, Betsy better not get any where near the reds or she will be pecked to death. Is there any chance the reds will accept her?
Thank you for your time and replies! <3
