Confirming Silkies with Standards?

[Karen_at_LittleBrook]

Hello! I am so happy that I found this wonderful on-line community! I have been reading it obsessively for a few weeks, registered a few days ago... and this is my first post!

I have not had chickens since I was a child, but the plans are in the works for a springtime coop. Originally I was thinking a nice sized coop and run for 10 girls... laying hens only! I will never eat any of my girls! (I plan expanding as needed and allowing them to retire and live a good life with us in return for what I hope will be a few good years of enjoyment and eggs) Anyway, my original plan has been somewhat foiled when I found SILKIES! So, as I read in the forum I would like to confirm that Silkies and Standards can co-mingle? I would like nice, mellow tempered standards for eggs, and the Silkies for the pleasure of their company. If I have to get two coops I need to rethink my plans. Would they do well/better to be started out together... getting all the chicks at one time and letting them grow-up together? I would prob do 6&6. Also, I know Silkies dont fly... what sort of roost modifications should be made for them? And, here comes my stupid question.... I understand that Sexing baby Silkies is impossible, so they come in a pot-luck run. If I should get a Silkie Roo or two do I need to keep them away from the standard girls? (I picture a Lab and a pomeranian... but love happens

)
Thank you for any experienced advice!

 

[silkydragon]

he looks pretty happy to me and he is up on the roost they can fly good enough to roost pretty high just not very good that roost is 4 or 5 ft up

 

[Karen_at_LittleBrook]

Awww cute pic! Thanks

 

[CrestedHorizonPoultry]

Just keep in mind that the Silkie breed has a crest and doesn't see as well. They have a harder time getting out of the way of a big bird. I don't mix mine, don't take the chance. I do have layer bantams with standard layer breeds, but not my silkies.

 

[henney penny]

I was given two silkie hens and a rooster last year and tried putting them in with my flook of golden comet and black sexlinks,the rooster tried to portect them for about a week then gave up on them,the standards picked on them awful so I ended up taking them out and putting them in a differant coop.They did all roost togather,and they got up really high on the roost so they must have jumped up the roost rungs.I would think that if you got them all the same time and raised them togather as chicks they would be ok.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

My smallest silkie hen is likely to terrorize my big girls. I have never had a problem mixing them.

 

[carriehelene]

I've had standards, bantams and silkies in a large coop together since Oct., and never had any trouble mixing the sizes.