JAIL TIME QUESTION ~ Update on Intergration...HELP PLEASE

[Shared Acres]

Maybe check craigslist for a rabbit hutch? That might be a good secondary cage for Silkies.

 

[TrixiePA]

I read on here and used it successfully to pull the mean one out and put them in 'solitary confinement', or the dog crate for a solid few days.. with food and water...

when I pulled the Roo out the pecking dynamic had changed and he was no longer head of the roost. Spent so much time reestablishing himself that he forgot to peck on the newbies.

Don't give up... a few weeks of segregation is worth it in the end.

 

[cmom]

Some integrations go better than others. I had a couple of hens that were real bullies so I put them in jail for a week where they could see the other birds and the other birds could see them. I understand they have to establish their pecking order, but one hen was after blood. When I let them out one was ok but one was still a bully so I would squirt her with a hose when I saw her pouncing on one of the younger birds. After a few squirts she settled down. Maybe she just got tired of being squirted. I put mine together in the yard so the younger ones can escape and get away from the older ones. Also I put out some treat so the older birds will fixate more on the treats than the younger birds. I integrated 1½ yr old hens with 3 to 4 month old pullets.

 

[eggsforsale]

cmom...thanks for the pix! I really enjoyed them. Beautiful place! I'm so jealous of your tractors. My back aches from hauling wheelbarrows of manure every spring. A tractor with a front end loader is my dream! Sorry about the cancer. Breaks my heart. Think positive and best of luck with your treatments. The economy stinks. We are newly semi retired. Hubby retired from great job but doing part time work because a lifetime of saving is still gobbled up by the economy. I feel your pain. However...we find peace, joy and contentment in our country home, animals, and of course family, friends and God.

 

[allison finch]

Tell me what you guys think about this plan.

I have 5 6 week old EE pullets. One is definitely the "boss hen".

I am getting 2 silkie pullets this week. I will put them in a 187 gallon aquarium brooder, in my house, for quarantine for a month. At the end of this time, I am going to put boss pullet in with them. She will be in a new place (not her kingdom) and out numbered by pullets in THEIR home.

Do you think that boss will coexist and then protect them when introduced back to the flock? What are your thoughts?

I guess the only way to tell is give it a try. I'll have to sit and watch them when boss goes to the silkies.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Ya know...maybe it's some strains of barred rock chicks? ALL my barred rocks are way meaner

My Barred Rocks are VERY agressive.

They killed one of my Cochin chicks, they chase the cats to get at their food, and they peck at my BO hens all the time.

As pretty as they are, I dont think I'll ever get any more.​

 

[joebryant]

I have my two silkie hens in a 4x8 coop with access to my fenced-in backyard. My three bbs Orpington hens and Orpington rooster have their own 4x8 coop and free range outside the backyard. There's no way that I'd expose my little silkies to the Orpington rooster or the hens.

 

[elmo]

Quote:
Excellent advice. You get my vote as "chicken whisperer" of the day.

 

[ChicksOnTheDL]

Maybe try a distraction, like a cabbage or something like that. Put a wire through it and hang it so the big girls have to jump to reach it. I saw that idea here and it worked great for me last fall. It kept everybody very busy. I would cut a small door in the side of a rubbermaid container, too small for the big hens, and keep a set of food/water in it so the silkies have a haven and won't miss out on food/water. It will be easier to keep them filled and keep it clean than a dog crate, since it had less nooks and crannies and you can just take off the top and lift the feeder/waterer out for refilling.

Also, to those who had problems with their Barred Rocks... Please don't give them all a bad name! Mine were absolute angels and I would definitely not write off the whole breed. I could always count on them to be the first to come see me and the first to accept new birds.

 

[m2wandc]

Quote:
There is such a HUGE size difference...

Luckily my Buff is very sweet...but the Barred rock is not...

and the silkies are sooo small compared to them, it's not a fair fight at all...