Integrating hens??

[DarleneE]

Hi! I have two hens. A Barred Rock and an Easter Egger. They're 10 weeks old and were raised together. I am now in LOVE with the Silkies and am wanting to get a pair. However the problem would be integrating them. Would that even be possible?? I'm understanding the Silkies are very docile birds and am thinking my two would totally take them out. My coop is also only 10' x 3' and is inside our lanai. Is there ANY way possible that I could have me two Silkies?? And NO unfortunately we're limited on space and have nowhere to put another coop. Thanks.

 

[Impress]

I usually make an integration pen inside or next to the current coop, where they can see each other and interact but not actually get at each other for a few days. Then introduce them when you have a proper amount of time to supervise. Make sure you quarantine the new birds for the proper amount of time before you begin integration, it would be terrible to integrate sick birds and kill off or sicken your whole flock.

 

[DarleneE]

Thank you.. but another question. Is my coop big enough for 4 hens?? Again, it's 10' x 3' with the entire bottom the run and the roost and nest are above. Thanks for your help.

 

[red horse ranch]

Thank you.. but another question. Is my coop big enough for 4 hens?? Again, it's 10' x 3' with the entire bottom the run and the roost and nest are above. Thanks for your help.

You have 30 square feet. It takes 4 sq ft of indoor space per full size bird. BUT, If they have no outside space you should allow 10 sq ft per full size bird. Since the silkies are really little birds I think you would be okay to have 2 of them. So My opinion is to go for it.

p.s. I add new birds to my flock every year and usually have no problem integrating them. Just some sorting out of the pecking order in the beginning. A temporary separator for 2 or 3 days would help especially if the silkies are younger than the hens. The silkies should be at least 8 weeks old before putting in with older chickens.

 

[DarleneE]

That's so encouraging. Thank you. What I was thinking of doing was to put up a temporary coop beside my current coop and letting them stay like that for a couple weeks so they could "get to know" each other BEFORE actually putting them together?? I'm hoping that would help. However, my husband does NOT want me to get the Silkies cause he says we are in a subdivision and are NOT on a farm!! Haha So I really have to convince him first..??!! Wish me luck!!

 

[Phoenixxx]

I have an old rabbit cage that I used when my chicks were too big to stay in the house. They'd sleep in the cage in the coop at night protected from the others, then outside in a portable pen I built out of plumbing line, tent poles and bird netting. They got let loose with the adults at about 6-8 weeks. Whenever I get new adult birds, I just throw them in. I know you're supposed to quarantine and all that, but my quarantine/breeding unit is only about 7 square feet (not including the run, of course!) - can't exactly fit 2 dozen adults in that!

I had a silkie until the other day. Puff was adorable, but she got picked on by everyone, including the tiny phoenixes. She took it, though - instead of cowering in a corner she'd eat with everyone else and just put up with the odd peck on the head. If you can, find older silkies and get them asap. Getting two pullet or adult silkies and putting them in with your still-quite-young hens may help reduce or eliminate any silkie-bullying. Everything I've read says they're bully-prone. They're also the first to go in a predator attack because they can't fly. But they ARE adorable! And soft like kittens, omg! They also don't mind the snow and, compared to most other breeds, actually WILLINGLY go out in it! At least Puff did, anyway. Never could find her when she did - she was white.

 

[TnTom]

I like to keep the new birds away and out of site then after dark and when the others have gone to roost for an hour or so then I set the new birds on a roost and let them wake together. Ive never had an incident. Its like they have always been together and the new birds free range with the older girls. I wont try to introduce a new rooster to an old established roosters coop. Im talking about pullet aged birds.

I just lost my Rooster to a neighbor dog (its been resolved) last week and haven't decided if a new guy is going to happpen the hens have been with him for 3-5 years and were really tight knit. They seem to be handling everything ok and the 5 hens for the first time are laying 5 eggs a day. I dont think there is a connection.

They are South American Coochins.

 

[Split Rail Farm]

I am in the process of integrating 15 girls with my existing 16 (one rooster). They are in a separate house fenced within the large run. Not ideal I know but best I can do. I had my vet do a fecal on the new girls and they have capillary worms. I am treating all of my girls for roundworms and capillary worms ughhh. Not happy about this situation. This is the first and last time I purchase hens that are within a month if laying. Chicks take longer but I know what I am dealing with.

Can anyone tell me how I can treat the ground that is now pooped up with capillary worms?? I was thinking till ground with DE then top with layer of sand.

 

[Phoenixxx]

I am in the process of integrating 15 girls with my existing 16 (one rooster). They are in a separate house fenced within the large run. Not ideal I know but best I can do. I had my vet do a fecal on the new girls and they have capillary worms. I am treating all of my girls for roundworms and capillary worms ughhh. Not happy about this situation. This is the first and last time I purchase hens that are within a month if laying. Chicks take longer but I know what I am dealing with.

Can anyone tell me how I can treat the ground that is now pooped up with capillary worms?? I was thinking till ground with DE then top with layer of sand.

DE doesn't work on worms, only insects/critters with exoskeletons. I don't know what you can do for the ground, I know I saw something somewhere here but I can't remember what it was. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[Phoenixxx]

I am in the process of integrating 15 girls with my existing 16 (one rooster). They are in a separate house fenced within the large run. Not ideal I know but best I can do. I had my vet do a fecal on the new girls and they have capillary worms. I am treating all of my girls for roundworms and capillary worms ughhh. Not happy about this situation. This is the first and last time I purchase hens that are within a month if laying. Chicks take longer but I know what I am dealing with.

Can anyone tell me how I can treat the ground that is now pooped up with capillary worms?? I was thinking till ground with DE then top with layer of sand.

I can't find it, it's buried in a thread SOMEWHERE.... If nobody here (this thread) has an answer, maybe start a new thread on the topic. If there is a safe, organic solution, I wouldn't mind treating my run as well