Lone silkie

[Winniethesilkie]

Hello! I just recently joined, but have been reading and learning here for almost 2 years. I got my first flock of 8 in March 2021. 4 isa browns, 2 barred rocks and 2 silkies, one of the silkies was a rooster. 2 months ago, he died suddenly, and ever since my flock has terrorized my lone silkie, Winnie. I had to bring her inside because of bleeding peck wounds which of course made it worse, and now she really isnt accepted into the flock. I recently got new chicks that are silkie mixes to be her new friends. Looking to possibly learn how to introduce her to them, and then them to my flock. Is that even possible?
My other option is to rehome my 6 layers, and start a new flock of silkies and silkie crosses. I have a friend who will take the older girls where they will get to free range all day, every day. But part of me feels guilty for sending them away.
They do not get to free range here all the time, in the city, but i try to let them out in the backyard as much as possible. The coop is an 8x8 shed and the run is about 12x12.
Chickens are tough sometimes! Thanks for reading! Any advice is very appreciated.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Welcome to the coop! I use the Forums and Articles tabs at the top of the page to do research. You can get lost for hours. It's nice to know you are minutes away from getting help with questions and emergencies!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

If they have a home to roam and feel raising silkies is in your heart you should be fine.

 

[MrsEarthern]

Welcome!
If you're not expanding the coop, and the run is 12x12 or 144 square feet, that should be plenty of room for the seven birds but depending on how many new birds you add it may become cramped.
Chickens do get bored, and it's possible the larger layers have ganged up on the smaller silkie because she's an easy target.
When you reintroduced, did you do a slow & separate introduction process?
If so, and she was still bullied, I would bet she would accept the chicks easily in the hopes of having friends.
Being in the city, silkies are probably easier and better suited to a small property.
I don't think you should ever feel guilty trying to give another living being a better life.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Your setup is too small for the number of birds you have and adding more will make it worse.
Because you seem to have a stronger attachment to the Silkie, and the layers would have a huge improvement in their lives by being allowed to free range all day, I would take your friend up on the offer to take your layers. It's truly a win for all involved!
Once the layers are gone, you can setup a brooder enclosed with chicken wire or hardware cloth inside the coop and brood your silkie mixes with a brooder plate (NOT a heat lamp) right inside the coop with your lone Silkie hen so they all can see each other but not touch. When the little ones are 4 weeks old, fashion two or three doors only large enough for the littles to come and go but not permit the larger hen inside the brooder and allow the littles out to explore the coop while the hen is closed off in the run. After about an hour of exploring and teaching the littles how to get back into their brooder, let the hen in and see how it goes. If she doesn't attack and just watches, or gives curiosity pecks or even just chases and lets off, allow them to stay with the doors open to the brooder. This way, they will likely have themselves integrated with her by 6 or 7 weeks old.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Welcome!
If you're not expanding the coop, and the run is 12x12 or 144 square feet, that should be plenty of room for the seven birds but depending on how many new birds you add it may become cramped.
Chickens do get bored, and it's possible the larger layers have ganged up on the smaller silkie because she's an easy target.
When you reintroduced, did you do a slow & separate introduction process?
If so, and she was still bullied, I would bet she would accept the chicks easily in the hopes of having friends.
Being in the city, silkies are probably easier and better suited to a small property.
I don't think you should ever feel guilty trying to give another living being a better life.

Thank you!! I have 8 new chicks right now, but guessing at least 2 will be roosters that I cant keep. I tried introducing them slowly, and even tried seperating the bullies and only putting her with the "nice" hens and then they still chase her non stop. It would have made more sense to rehome my one silkie, but she is just the sweetest bird and I love her lol. It does seem that rehoming my first 6 will be the best. They are good healthy birds just kind of mean. One of them even attacks me!

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! I think you have gotten great advice. Good luck to you and your silkie flock!

 

[Blue Raptor]

Hello! I just recently joined, but have been reading and learning here for almost 2 years. I got my first flock of 8 in March 2021. 4 isa browns, 2 barred rocks and 2 silkies, one of the silkies was a rooster. 2 months ago, he died suddenly, and ever since my flock has terrorized my lone silkie, Winnie. I had to bring her inside because of bleeding peck wounds which of course made it worse, and now she really isnt accepted into the flock. I recently got new chicks that are silkie mixes to be her new friends. Looking to possibly learn how to introduce her to them, and then them to my flock. Is that even possible?
My other option is to rehome my 6 layers, and start a new flock of silkies and silkie crosses. I have a friend who will take the older girls where they will get to free range all day, every day. But part of me feels guilty for sending them away.
They do not get to free range here all the time, in the city, but i try to let them out in the backyard as much as possible. The coop is an 8x8 shed and the run is about 12x12.
Chickens are tough sometimes! Thanks for reading! Any advice is very appreciated.

Welcome to BYC!!

 

[N F C]

Great advice from @DobieLover hope it helps!

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Your setup is too small for the number of birds you have and adding more will make it worse.
Because you seem to have a stronger attachment to the Silkie, and the layers would have a huge improvement in their lives by being allowed to free range all day, I would take your friend up on the offer to take your layers. It's truly a win for all involved!
Once the layers are gone, you can setup a brooder enclosed with chicken wire or hardware cloth inside the coop and brood your silkie mixes with a brooder plate (NOT a heat lamp) right inside the coop with your lone Silkie hen so they all can see each other but not touch. When the little ones are 4 weeks old, fashion two or three doors only large enough for the littles to come and go but not permit the larger hen inside the brooder and allow the littles out to explore the coop while the hen is closed off in the run. After about an hour of exploring and teaching the littles how to get back into their brooder, let the hen in and see how it goes. If she doesn't attack and just watches, or gives curiosity pecks or even just chases and lets off, allow them to stay with the doors open to the brooder. This way, they will likely have themselves integrated with her by 6 or 7 weeks old.

Thank you so much! How many birds can I keep comfortably in the size setup that I have?