New to Backyard chickens

[ChickieMamaSara]

Hi, there my name is Sara 1st time chicken mom... I have 11 ladies and 1 rooster, all different breeds from the barred rock to the silver laced Wyandotte... I got all of these chickens at once almost a year ago at a day old and they all get along great... my husband recently got me 3 white silkies 2 female and 1 male, they are about 4 months old I've tried to slowly integrate the silkies in with my older birds and it's not going well they get picked on and pecked at, when I returned home from work it was to late.. my bigger birds killed one of my silkies. Needless to say I am so upset by this! Does anyone have any advice on what to do before I loose another silkie?? Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Integrating bantams, especially silkies, into a large bird established flock is close to impossible. Bantams raised with large fowl do fine some even ranking high in the pecking order. I think that in order for the remaining silkies to survive they either need a new home or their own pen.

 

[Chicken Girl1]

 

[ChickieMamaSara]

Thanks for the advice im looking in to their own coop!

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi Sara and welcome to BYC. Sourland has given you some great advice, and its good to read that you are acting on it.

All the best

CT

 

[drumstick diva]

Silkies and Polish breed tend to get picked on mercilessly just because they look different to the regular breeds. Also with big crests and beards their vision is obscured. Silkies do not fly though they can jump - so they tend to be defenseless. Really any new additions to a flock need to be integrated carefully. The established birds otherwise will maul or kill new ones- it's just easier to kill silkies.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!