Lonely silkie

[Fluffypeckers]

Hi
I'm new here so i wasn't sure where to post this.. Anyway.. I got 6 chickens in May and right now i have 15. I got my first 6 chickens from the same place and then later hatched chicks that are now 3 months old. The first chickens i got are all different breeds, ameraucana rooster, golden comet and 4 silkies. The older silkie hens were 2 years old and two younger ones (rooster and a hen) are now 5 months old. One of the older silkie hens was always with the younger ones and she was taking care of them. When they got older the rooster started being with the other chickens more but the two silkies would just be alone. Everything was fine, none of them were fighting and they would all sleep together. However it all changed couple weeks ago when the older silkie died.. Now all my chickens are bullying the 5 month old silkie hen because she's alone. The other older silkie hen has now 3 little chicks so the lonely one can't even be with her..The lonely one can't eat or drink or the others will chase her away. When the others jump to the roosts she just stays on the floor, alone.. if she tries to go with the others they will peck her until she jumps down. Now she's in the house with us because she was bleeding and wouldn't eat! I'm so worried about her.. what can i do? Should i get her a new silkie friend or just wait that the new chicks are older and maybe then she could be with them? Thank you for your answers!

 

[SSSophie]

I would definitely keep her separate until she heals completely. Any opens wounds can be grounds for the others to peck her more. Cannibalism.

I would try to integrate her with the new hatchlings as they grow. Right now we have a bantam barred rock who has had horrible luck. We lost most of the hatchlings we hatched with her. She was one of the first chicks I ever hatched and I'm so bright I decided I would hatch geese with them.... Then my boss lost every employee he had except myself and another person. So I screwed up and had them in the same brooder and lost 3 chicks from coccidiosis. Got mad and gave the goslings away. Quit my job and now I have a wonderful boss. Anyhow, she's still small for her age and we had her in with some TSC bantams until last week. I was standing outside near their pen and I'm not sure of she was trying to say hello or what happened. When I found her she had her head through the welded wire between it and a tpost. She was stuck and others jumped on her.. I was luckily right there or she probably would have bled out. Her neck veins are exposed but she's actually healing nicely. We also have more chicks in brooders. Full sized but about two weeks old. She hangs out with my brooder babies while supervised. If I put her anywhere else she gets picked on.

The biddies may be the best friends she can have. As long as she's not the one picking on them it will give her the opportunity to get comfortable with them as they grow.

 

[Fluffypeckers]

I would definitely keep her separate until she heals completely. Any opens wounds can be grounds for the others to peck her more. Cannibalism.

I would try to integrate her with the new hatchlings as they grow. Right now we have a bantam barred rock who has had horrible luck. We lost most of the hatchlings we hatched with her. She was one of the first chicks I ever hatched and I'm so bright I decided I would hatch geese with them.... Then my boss lost every employee he had except myself and another person. So I screwed up and had them in the same brooder and lost 3 chicks from coccidiosis. Got mad and gave the goslings away. Quit my job and now I have a wonderful boss. Anyhow, she's still small for her age and we had her in with some TSC bantams until last week. I was standing outside near their pen and I'm not sure of she was trying to say hello or what happened. When I found her she had her head through the welded wire between it and a tpost. She was stuck and others jumped on her.. I was luckily right there or she probably would have bled out. Her neck veins are exposed but she's actually healing nicely. We also have more chicks in brooders. Full sized but about two weeks old. She hangs out with my brooder babies while supervised. If I put her anywhere else she gets picked on.

The biddies may be the best friends she can have. As long as she's not the one picking on them it will give her the opportunity to get comfortable with them as they grow.

Sorry to hear that I hope she gets better soon!

I'm going to keep my poor girl in the house for now.. She eats and drinks but doesn't really walk.. She's so kind and cuddly and she never pecked the chicks i hatched before so i think she'll be good with the new babies too. I just feel bad because she seems so lonely now.. Thank you for your help!

 

[feathermaid]

I'm sorry you're having troubles, pecking order can be brutal stuff sometimes. I haven't had silkies yet, but some people have had luck keeping them in a mixed flock, and sometimes it just doesn't work.

After your girl gets healed, you could try introducing her back in a dog crate to keep her safe. One of the most important things you can do is offer multiple food and water stations, preferably out of sight from one another. I keep 2 feeders and 3 water stations available at all times, even when I'm not integrating, and I usually only have 4-6 birds at a time. Also add some extra perches and maybe spread some hay bales to keep everyone occupied. Hopefully mama hen will let her befriend the chicks pretty soon and all will be well.

 

[Fluffypeckers]

I'm sorry you're having troubles, pecking order can be brutal stuff sometimes. I haven't had silkies yet, but some people have had luck keeping them in a mixed flock, and sometimes it just doesn't work.

After your girl gets healed, you could try introducing her back in a dog crate to keep her safe. One of the most important things you can do is offer multiple food and water stations, preferably out of sight from one another. I keep 2 feeders and 3 water stations available at all times, even when I'm not integrating, and I usually only have 4-6 birds at a time. Also add some extra perches and maybe spread some hay bales to keep everyone occupied. Hopefully mama hen will let her befriend the chicks pretty soon and all will be well.

I have 2 feeders but they just won't let her eat
She's doing little bit better now, she eats and drinks but she doesn't walk.. she just sits on her legs..

 

[feathermaid]

That doesn't sound normal. Are you sure she's healing properly?
I'm thinking you should post a new thread with some photos here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

I'm not very good at recommending treatment... I've only have one sick chicken ever and I sought advice too late and she died. So now I believe asking for help sooner is better than thinking she'll just recover fine on her own. Many knowledgable people frequent that forum and might be able to help.

 

[Fluffypeckers]

That doesn't sound normal. Are you sure she's healing properly?
I'm thinking you should post a new thread with some photos here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures.10/

I'm not very good at recommending treatment... I've only have one sick chicken ever and I sought advice too late and she died. So now I believe asking for help sooner is better than thinking she'll just recover fine on her own. Many knowledgable people frequent that forum and might be able to help.

Thank you!