HELP-- pickin' chickens

[Sierra Hughes]

literally.. as in I have my big chickens barred rocks going after my silkies.

My silkies have been in a dog crate, inside my girls' run for a week now. I let them all out to see if they would be okay... immediately the big girls chase the silkies and peck them so that the silkies yelp(a chicken screech) and run away.. just to have the big girls chase after them.

Any help would be much appreciated!
Not sure what to do.

 

[rIrs roost]

They will have to establish a pecking order. How old are the silkies? I can't stand watching the pecking order junk. As long as the don't draw blood or corner them its just something that has to happen. Keep a eye on them. Some breeds don't mix well with others though. Maybe someone else can give you more information.

 

[Sierra Hughes]

They will have to establish a pecking order. How old are the silkies? I can't stand watching the pecking order junk. As long as the don't draw blood or corner them its just something that has to happen. Keep a eye on them. Some breeds don't mix well with others though. Maybe someone else can give you more information.

They are two months old.. the other flock is only two weeks older. Silkies are just so much smaller. Unfortunately.

 

[SoCalClucker]

I hate it when they fight over pecking order, too. Unfortunately it's a necessary evil AFAIK. The only suggestion I can make is to give the silkies somewhere to hide. Can you leave the dog kennel in there, but with the door wedged open just enough for the silkies? Even a cardboard box with a hole cut into it that the silkies can get into, but not the standards... Any way they can get a breather from the harassment. Hopefully the bigger girls get satisfied that they are still higher ups quickly, and stop feeling like they need to beat on the silkies. Good luck!

 

[rIrs roost]

Sorry I forgot. Welcome to byc. I have a silkie roo that I introduced a year ago. I had to really watch him because he would just stand there and take the pecking. Ofcouse I stepped in. I let him free range everyday with the others while I was out there and kelp him in a pin in their coop at night. They eventually accept him. I promise it should get better with patience and time. Now the hens will always peck a little here and there but nothing bad.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! My best advice is to house the Silkies in a separate run; they are fragile little guys, no match for the Plymouth Rocks. Over time, if you can free range them together, they might work into one flock, but don't count on it. All the best, Mary