I have 10 silkies that will be here in 6 days and will be in the brooder with standard hatchlings, in our shop. EDITED TO ADD: I already have 15, 24 week old standards in the coop and run. I was reading posts and came across one where a standard hen tore the throat out of a 5 week old silkie. Some have had holes pecked into their heads. I was planning on leaving the new babies in the brooder for 5 or 6 weeks then putting a dog crate or the brooder in the run for a few days then turning them loose with my 15 standards when it's gets cold. Now I'm not so sure. They're really isn't enough room to section off inside the coop for 25 half grown chicks, but plenty for sleeping in at night. How do I integrate them without the Silkies getting too cold or getting killed? Might have to build a temporary coop off the ground or just keep them in the shop until they're older...... Any one who's added Silkies with standards please give me advice....
I'm no expert but I have 12 week old silkies and 12 week old standards together with no problem. Now I have 1.5 week old marans with 1.5 old silkies together. jackie
I have a group of silkies I added to an established large fowl flock earlier this summer. I had the silkies in a smaller pen within the larger pen for about 6 weeks before I let them out. At first, I just propped the smaller pen open a bit so the littler ones could come and go but the bigger ones could not get in. After a couple weeks of this I finally put them together and never had a problem. I think as long as they have a while to get used to the new ones it should work out. A few days may not be nearly long enough. Richard
I have noticed tha my silkies have some problems with the other chickens I have as they are not as aggressive as the others and sometimes it seems as if they are shoved away like my WCBP but if you notice that they seem to not be able to see trim the feathers by the eyes and they do get more agressive...I did this and now they are getting along better...even the white crested black polish they got a feather cut too...but the SCBP still are shyer than the others...Good luck