Lone silkie

[janiedoe]

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

I wouldn't keep more than 10. I'd start with four, which allows for flock growth, since you're going to have a broody breed. And who doesn't love a broody mama and chicks?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore.
You have been given a lot of good advice.
Have you looked at egg size.
Banty are great one bite eggs, big girls lay big eggs. JMHO.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. This is a great place to explore.
You have been given a lot of good advice.
Have you looked at egg size.
Banty are great one bite eggs, big girls lay big eggs. JMHO.

I have really considered this too. The mixes that i have are silkies with easter egger, and with speckled sussex. Would either possibly have a medium-large egg? Another option i read was salmon faverolles, who seem to get along fine with silkies

 

[pennyJo1960]

Most often the mixes are laying small eggs I have found.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Sadly the chicken social order is not kind, and silkies are frequently targeted by larger birds.

 

[DobieLover]

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

It is really a matter of personality and size. You had a major problem with what you had.
Provided the Silkie and the mixes all get along, you could likely house more than the number you had because they are smaller birds and generally docile.

 

[Dr Evy]

Welcome to BYC! We’re so glad you joined!

 

[Boppo]

A chicken coop should be 2.5-4 square feet per chicken for bantam to standard chickens who have a large run, and 5-10 square feet per chicken for chickens who have a small run. Bantams need less space, and silkies are in that group, not just for size, but also because they are so gentle, that they are less likely to quarrel in tight spaces. But they will all be happier with a good amount of space.
Coop Space Guide:

• Bantam: 2 square feet each.
• Standard: 4 square feet each.
• Large: 8 square feet each.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

It is really a matter of personality and size. You had a major problem with what you had.
Provided the Silkie and the mixes all get along, you could likely house more than the number you had because they are smaller birds and generally docile.

I think I will start with 4 or 5 for now and maybe add in the spring. I believe I have 2 actual silkies (unless theyre roos) and 3 pullets that are EE and SS crosses. I definitely should not have put red sexlink chickens with silkies from what I have read on here. This group is the best. Do you know if salmon faverolles are a good mix for silkies? Something to consider for spring, since someone mentioned tiny eggs, my husband brought it up too.

 

[Winniethesilkie]

Thank you all again so much. So much advice and so quickly too. Im thankful to have so much knowledge in one place. I literally could spend hours reading and learning.
I will try to create a friendly backyard flock as best as I can. Without over crowding or bullying.