I have some Silkie chicks that are almost 5 weeks old. Occasionally have taken a hen to look into the brooder box to get them used to seeing each other. Today I took one Silkie outside to meet the others. A couple of hens jumped into my lap to check it out. Things seem OK so I put the Silkie on the ground, almost instantly one, of the hens pecked the Silkie head and another fluffed up and was about to peck before I stopped her. Now the Silkie chick is showing signs of brain damage. The problem is in a week I need to introduce the 10 Silkies to the 8 standard breeds and I only have one coop. Are the standards going to kill all my Silkies?! I read here that they should do fine together, after this, I don't know what to do. Please help with any advice that will make a safe transaction. I really don't want to lose any more of my sweet Silkies.
5 weeks is way to young to introduce your new chicks. I know you were just feeling the water so to speak but if those babies were never around the big ones, they are intruders in the eyes of your established flock. I usually try to intergrate at 3 months. You will have to section of a part of your coop for the young ones and allow them time to get used to each other. Some established chickens can be real _itchy with new chicken or chicks.
When I introduced my bantams to my standard chickens, I only had 2 standard and 5 bantams. I kept them in a rabbit cage inside the coop for a few weeks before letting them all hang out together. When I would let the 2 standard out to free range, I would put the bantams in their cage outside in the grass and let them hang out too. It went pretty smooth I thought for my first time ever. Good luck with yours. edited to add that my bantams are not silkies, but are millie fleur
I always section of a portion of the coop, and keep the young ones in there for at least a week or more, to get everyone accustomed to eachother, then when it is time to removed the section, I do it during the day while everyone is freeranging. I have done this a few times now,a nd have never had a problem. This includes bantam, but not silkies, as I have yet to get any of those, even tho I realy want some!
I keep my chicks in a rabbit cage until they are about 4 months old. Then I place a large dog cage inside the chicken coop for a several weeks. The others get use to seeing them. I like my new girls to be bigger so they can take care of themselves and not get hurt.
Hi there, I adopted 3 silki crosses....1 is a pure silki. This type of bird has a hole on top of their skull. When pecked they can die from brain damage...I had to separate the 3 of them from our ISA browns. If only 1 coop is there a way to have a 2nd floor put in....thats what we had to do last min. when they pecking started. They are now side by side indoors/outdoors. I don't want to chance any accidents. Just some information I found out Silkis after i got mine....