SegiDream
Songster
Honestly my silkies weren't too too bad. I said I wouldn't keep them again mostly because they don't fit into our egg/meat/free range needs and wouldn't earn their keep. I'd say they're tolerable if you want a pet and don't mind getting pecked 20 times while collecting eggs (small ones) and going the extra mile to protect them from predators. Their drama was funny to watch sometimes. Mine didn't like to roost despite low roosts and encouragement, and they preferred to lay their eggs on the ground instead of the nesting boxes. Little busy bodies doing their own thing. It wound up being their demise when something broke into the chicken house overnight and picked off my last few silkie hens.I have chickens that can fly a little. In my case it is great ti have free ranging chickens who are able to flee from dogs and other predators during day-time.
I have a covered run of 15m2 (10’ x 15’?) for my small bantams. If necessary they can stay in the coop+run whole day. When nobody is at home they stay inside. If possible we let them free range a few hours each day.
The run has predator-bird netting on top and proven to be safe for 5 years now. To keep the chickens in and keep predators out (during daytime).
P.s. I love my chickens. No reason not to want Dutch bantams or naine de Tournaisis in the future. The Dutch are friendlier, the Tournaisis are better layers. Because I am curious I prefer trying another bantam breed next year. Reading about silkies and polish I definitely wont buy fertile eggs of those feather balls.