sad silkie

[zezozosee13]

hi there.
I have a varied flock of hens: anconas, bantams, a hamburgh, wyandottes and last but not least a little black silkie. I bought her a year ago. the place I bought her from was bizarre. he kept all his chickens in a dark shed and there she was, all by herself. the shopkeeper said he thought she wasn't very well but I got her anyway. I couldn't see a problem with her. two years on and touch wood she is still ok but she stays in the coop all the time. could it be due to how she was originally kept? she rarely ventures out as some of the others go for her. its usually the bantams that are vicious to her. I have been pestering my wife to let me get her a little silkie friend but my wife said what if they don't get on? just want her to have some company and to give her a better life. I do get her out the coop and even bring her in my house. just feel so sorry for her. do you think another silkie would help in this situation - to bring her out of her shell (sorry for the pun!).

 

[lightchick]

Maybe if you get a younger Silkie then she'd be happier. I'd try to get a pullet.

 

[Going Quackers]

Could be what she's used too, chickens are routine followers, that said i don't see how a friend of her own kind would do harm. I find sillkies flop(dogpile) whatever you choose to call it, sounds like she's lacking in that.

Shame about her previous conditions, i simply do not see the point to that, don't keep chickens then ...

 

[newmarch2014]

My chickens are kept in a coop and small attached pen right now since we still have to build the official run. Due to that I allow them to free range whenever I can, some of them take forever to venture out due to being afraid of the big bad world, I have to physically pick them up and set them out in the yard...then they seem to enjoy the outside. Perhaps giving her a separate small pen to be outside with no fear of being picked on? I of course think that everyone needs a friend so following bio safety rules I think adding a pullet that would possibly bond with her in their own outside enclosure may be good, if you get them bonded away from the others they may then stay buddied up and venture out with the others over time. I know that I have 2 shy chickens that spend most of their time together and there is safety in numbers it seems because if they are together the are more confident so the others do not pick on them like they do if they catch them alone. These 2 like to sleep beside each other and where one goes the other follows.

 

[zezozosee13]

thanks everyone for the advice.
I got her a little pal last week. but it was terrible. obviously they had to sort out the pecking order and even though the new silkie was quite adventurous she was getting beaten up so bad. one morning I couldn't see the silkies - they were both huddled inside their coop and my newbie had blood coming from her vent - it had been pecked there - yet she was determined not to be bullied. couldn't stand to see them like that though so I sorted out an old coop that I used to have and made a run for them. now the silkies are together in their own little abode and seem so happy. the new one (Josephine) has even helped my older one (fifi) to venture out into their new run and to try different foods (she just used to have layers pellets - wouldn't even attempt to try anything else) - but now shes having a lot of treats. so pleased for a happy ending!!!

 

[jennychick45]

You could make her be a house chicken