need advise on adding 1 silkie

[BlueEggs4Life]

Hi guys! I need your expertise once again. There is a small animal auction this Saturday in Ravenna, Mi and I want to add a silkie to my flock so badly - they are so cute. The potential problem is that I have 6 full grown Easter Egger hens in the coop already. I have 5 chicks in the brooder (3 bantams, 1 black astralorp and 1 light brahma). My dilemma is whether to purchase a mature silkie hen so I know it is a hen (cant have a rooster at my house in the city) and try adding only 1 new bird to an existing flock... or if I should chance it and get a chick so it can be added with the other 5 when ready. I would rather get a silkie that I KNOW is a hen but I'm not sure how well adding a single bird to the mix would go over - anyone tried this before? Any advise for adding a single new bird to a flock? Basically, what would you do in this situation?

ps. I do have the ability to keep the new silkie separate from the others but still able to see them during the introduction period as the inside of my coop is able to be separated in half.

Thanks for your advise in advance, I appreciate it!

 

[ChickyLaura]

I attend a small animal auction every Saturday night. I have some "thoughts" for you...

LOL

Anything I buy from there *must* be quarantined for 30 days in a seperate area from your other birds. There have been people that have lost entire flocks here on BYC due to not quarantining their new birds. If you do put them close to each other during the quarantine phase, they could still catch something (ex. respiratory probs) from your auction bird. Also, if you can, look closely at the birds before the auction. Anything with weird looking legs, or missing feathers, gross eyes... do not buy!!! I wouldn't buy anything on a night when there are any "gross"looking birds because that puts all of the other animals at risk. Luckily I have never had this problem. I also look to see how the birds are brought in for auction. I will never ever buy any bird that is stuffed into a tiny box, no matter how good the bird looks. I think it is inhumane to see their tails sticking out of the top because they're stuffed into tiny boxes, and have to wonder how they were kept prior to the auction. If you don't see anything you like, don't buy! I know it sounds hard, but there will be other auctions, and there's also Craig's List, etc. You can get some nice birds at an auction, but just use your best judgement.

I prefer to buy chicks at the auction, since I already brood in the house away from the flock. But since you only want to buy one (and since Silkies are so darn hard to sex!) buying a laying hen sounds like your best bet! If you do buy chicks, maybe get a few. Then down the road you could sell the excess at auction if you need to (especially the roosters!!!).

I have added birds to my flock (after the quarantine period) by doing it in an area adjacent to the main coop, similar to what you have. Give them a little time to see the new gal, and then you can either try adding the new bird during the nighttime, or instead doing it during the day, but throw in a bunch of treats to distract the birds. They will need some time to adjust. The new gal will probably be at the bottom of the pecking order, at least for a little while. Keep an eye on them, just in case you have to intervene!

Good luck to you!!! I do go to our local auction all the time because I love seeing what people are raising and selling. It's a lot of fun!

 

[BlueEggs4Life]

Thanks for the great info - It will be hard to leave with nothing, but I agree, I cant risk my girls if there are birds at the auction that dont look so well. I will be bringing a friend along that grew up on a farm to help me with selection since I'm a city girl and pick by "what's cute!" haha. Thanks for reminding me of the quarantine period also... is there anything you recommend I should give the new bird (vitamins, meds, wormer etc) just as a precaution once home?