Did my chix kill my silkie?

[erikarn]

I have 11 various chix, mostly bantams, 4 roos. I had 3 silkies that I was trying to introduce to them. I had them in a rabbit cage in the coop and would let them out when I was there to supervise. The roos were picking on them, one roo in particular. So I had been putting him in the rabbit cage when I let them out. They had been doing fine. I let them out Saturday and went back to check on them about 2 hours later and found one of my silkies dead in the run. I feel terrible, but I am wondering if you all think something else could have happened to her because I could not find any wounds on her. She seemed fine when I last saw her. I guess my remaining silkies are going to need a coop of their own. I am too scared to try to let them out again.

 

[DragonEggs]

I honestly don't know what to tell you hun except

and I'm sorry for your loss. I lost my favorite silkie last week, no wounds or anything apparent to tell me how she died, and she was the only one. Still breaks my heart.

 

[crazy chook]

I would say you need to keep them separate. They can also drop dead from stress if the others were picking on them.

 

[Matt A NC]

A quick peck to the top of the head will kill out a silkie quickly, especially a young one. The same thing that gives them the crest also gives them a soft/thin spot on top of their heads.

Matt

 

[erikarn]

Does anyone think they picked on her because she was female? The other 2 are roos. Would the hens I have pick at them too? I was thinking maybe I could put them together if I gave my roos away. I really like my silkies and just spend $1600 to build my coop and run. I really don't want to build another coop.

 

[silkieowner]

Thats the thing about chickens when introducing new chickens to the old chickens the old chickens have to tell the new commers who is boss "the pecking order" The pecking order can last a week to a month to work out. Yes hen will also peck them to tell them there higher in the pecking order.

What i did when introducing new chickens to my flock is i let the old ones out in the yard to free range while i put the new ones in the coop/run but leave the door open. If the old chickens come in i let them chase the new commers and give them a peck or 2 then i step in and chase the old chicken out of the coop/run. At night time they are all settled in and asleep, IN the morning i may hear some squawks going on, i then hop up and go outside if the old ones are chasing and giving the new comers to much trouble i step in and chase them and sometimes tap them on the back lighty. With my silkies i just got to go arh No in a firm but loudish voice and they stop,but with the standards i need to chase them, I now have my standards and bantams sperated as the standards wouldn't leave the nantams alone. Every chicken is different some acccept new chickens quite easily like my silkies where some can take a month or more and then some won't accept them at all. If its only the roosters pecking and chasing the new chickens i say remove them for a week then slowly introduce them back into the flock.So sorry you lost one of your silkies.