seriously injured silkie chick.. does it have a chance?

[Sofi]

Thank you everyone for your advice. I'm going to wait until he is fully healed and then I'll start to try integrating him/her slowly. How long do silkies take to reach maturity?

 

[Stiggy]

um it depends, those of a late hatch take longer. Mine usually lay about 7 months or so and the boys start harassing the girls at about 4-6 months though they arnt very fertile to start with

 

[Sofi]

Well, the scab broke into several parts and the last piece fell off today!! That means.... No more open wound!!! My baby made it!

I'm not sure if new feathers will grow on the new skin (there are new feathers on the outer skin that healed first). Time will tell but that doesn't really matter

Tonight's pictures.. Such great progress! My baby is a fighter!!!

 

[Stiggy]

wow he is looking good now

 

[Sofi]

Integration has begun today! My ladies are extremely interested in the new peep...

 

[Shabana]

Love to hear such great news !!
You both deserve a medal !

It's wonderful to see baby doing so well and getting to be with a flock. You've made my day

 

[Sofi]

So... integration was over a few days ago. Silkie was doing well with the flock. After a couple of nights showing her how to go up the ramp, she started going in the coop at night. Everything was going great! She was one with the flock!

Or so I thought.

Today, she was attacked AGAIN. Not by the same chickens that attacked her last time (I gave those 3 bantams away), but by the "new" flock.

I don't remember feeling this discouraged in my life. I'm back to square one. This is her today:

You can still see the new feathers around the edges. I am so mad I'm fighting back tears. I guess it's all my fault for trying to put a silkie in a LF flock.

I set up the brooder again. Applied the neosporin. Gave the vitamins. I'll nurse her back to health and rehome. If any of you with an all silkie flock near Raleigh, NC wants her... She's yours.

 

[Stiggy]

Oh dear that's awful. the poor girl and just when she was healing up nicely .

 

[Shabana]

Omg I feel so sorry for the pair of you

They just sometimes sense weekness and it's in their nature, it's not your fault Hun, you've done everything you could do.
I'm glad you're not giving up. Poor little baby, what a rotten start ! Im so glad baby has you tho. Perhaps baby needs to be a house/garden chicken.

Please keep updating. It's easy for me to feel quite attached - baby's so cute and what a hard time you've both had.
I'd love to finally see a happy ending for you both.

Best wishes xx

 

[Suzie]

I am in tears reading of your posts...you must be distraught...I have had Silkies for years and have never had a problem with integration into the main flock with them..they can be feisty and some will really give the others a hard time if they are challenged...sadly there are some other breeds of chickens that are aggressive, I have two bantam females that will attack any new member to the flock and will peck at the new ones until they bow down to the pecking order of the existing ones....the problems settle after a few days here....I am so very sorry that your beautiful Silkie has been attacked...you have worked so hard and your optimism for the little ones survival after the initial attack was commendable...I am saddened to hear that the Silkie will have to be re-homed...it is a wise decision given the circumstances...I do so feel for you...the Silkie will have a new home where it is safe...BUT it will always be your baby!

Good luck!