Quarantine: Fail - Flock Integration: Not looking too Good

[lazy gardener]

Silkies are notorious for bedding down on the floor of the coop. That's just what they like to do.

 

[Southern Dad]

They've been all together for about 11 days now. While the three original hens do seem to be the bullies especially controlling the run part of the coop, they are starting to integrate a little more. The only one still having real getting along issues is the Silkie. She's not good at sizing up situations. Everything will be going along pretty quietly, then she'll start pecking on the Rhode Island Red. Not a good move. The RIR has her by a couple pounds. Right now, she has a plucked bare spot because she won't keep trying to nip bigger birds. Feeling sorry for her we isolated her in the greenhouse for a day. As soon as she was free ranging with the other birds she went right back to her jump and peck. Of course, they returned the favor. It seems like all the other hens have agreed to get along or at least share space except this one. She just thinks she's the bad butt on the block.

I'm glad someone told me that her bedding down on the floor or in the nesting box isn't unusual because she just doesn't roost.

 

[boyswillbeboys]

My silkies don't seem to want to roost either

 

[Southern Dad]

My Silkie hasn't figured out that she's not the biggest chicken in the flock. She keeps pecking the Rhode Island Red on the back. The Silkie doesn't come out the winner in this but she just keeps doing it. She's also done it to a few of the other breeds of hens but most of them move when they see her coming. She has a bare spot on her back right now so she got into it with one of the hens. The other day, I isolated her in the greenhouse so that she'd be away from the chicken coop but she spent all her time trying to get out and get back to the coop/run.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Sounds like the flock could need more protein.
What comprises their diet?

 

[Southern Dad]

There is always a feeder full of DuMOR Layer Pellets and a small one of Oyster Shell. They free range during the evenings weekdays, and all day on weekends. I think the Silkie would be better off, if she'd just quit jumping on bigger birds.