Integrating 2 week old silkies with 3 week old silkies

[ceedi79]

I apologize if this question is redundant but I’ve searched and searched to find a similar post. I had 3, 1.5 week old silkies and then got 3, 2-3 week old silkie chicks. For the first couple days, I had each group in separate bins (not able to see each other) so that the new old chicks could get acclimated to their new home. Then I kept them separate but able to see each other (each group in clear bins but next to each other) for about 3 days. Then I started short “play dates”, increasing the amount of time with each meet. After about 4 more days (today) I’ve had them all together for about 5 hours now. Most are getting along well, however I have 2 (1 from each group) that continue to get aggressive with each other. No blood drawn or anything severe. I noticed that they mostly stay in their own groups at different parts of the brooder. Am I doing this right? I am debating on putting up a screen between the two groups for over night and then tomorrow while at work. Should I allow them to stay together overnight without supervision? Any suggestions on next steps?

Thank you in advance!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have 2 (1 from each group) that continue to get aggressive with each other. No blood drawn or anything severe.

Can you describe the aggression? Is it possible they're just playing harder than the others?

Nothing wrong with being cautious, but 2-3 week old chicks of most breeds shouldn't have issue accepting newcomers of similar size/age. I would've just put them in together, watched them a few minutes, and walked away if nothing was obviously amiss.

 

[ceedi79]

Can you describe the aggression? Is it possible they're just playing harder than the others?

Nothing wrong with being cautious, but 2-3 week old chicks of most breeds shouldn't have issue accepting newcomers of similar size/age. I would've just put them in together, watched them a few minutes, and walked away if nothing was obviously amiss.

Thank you for your reply!

Their are 2 (1 from each batch) that will peck others on the head out of nowhere. One of them will also try to pull crown feathers of the one they just pecked. Sometimes it is 3 or 4 pecks with the crown pulling. However, the two most “aggressive” seemed to get in little fights. They would do the pecking and crown pulling but also circle around each other while pushing their necks together. Over a 6 hour period I witnessed the little fights at least 3 times. I can’t say how long it lasted since I intervened after about 10-15 secs. They can be across the brooder from each other and the 1 will “seek” out the other.

This is my third batch of chicks, however first batch of silkies and have not witnessed this before in other chicks. I have seen the chest bumping, jumping in each other, etc in my other chicks, but this is different. I noticed that later in the day the one group were just staying in a small area on one side of the brooder by themselves while the other 3 went about their business.

I ended up separating them before bed last night and while I’m at work. I’ll put them back together when I get home and then tomorrow again. I am wondering if this is normal for silkies?

 

[rosemarythyme]

I ended up separating them before bed last night and while I’m at work. I’ll put them back together when I get home and then tomorrow again. I am wondering if this is normal for silkies?

Unusual for most breeds of chicks, I would think, but since Silkies have a bit of tuft on their heads that might make it an attractive target to these bullies.

Give this a read, might be some tips that can help you here. You look to have a good amount of brooder space, but not a lot of stuff to keep chicks occupied and away from mischief: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-pecking-other-chick.1430088/#post-23567316

 

[ceedi79]

Unusual for most breeds of chicks, I would think, but since Silkies have a bit of tuft on their heads that might make it an attractive target to these bullies.

Give this a read, might be some tips that can help you here. You look to have a good amount of brooder space, but not a lot of stuff to keep chicks occupied and away from mischief: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/chick-pecking-other-chick.1430088/#post-23567316

Thank you! I’ll try some of those ideas to see if it helps.