Silkie hen being targeted- should she be rehomed?

[booksandcranies]

So this is the second time she has been targeted (Eggsmerelda)

The first time was much more dramatic. Blood was drawn, she had a terrible gash on her head. But she healed, i interstates her back into the flock and all was well for 5 more months.

Yesterday I noticed she’s bald!! There is no blood, it didn’t look red or irritated (I was at work all day so I’m unsure when it happened, probably during the night). I mean/ she can see super well now (I say sarcastically)


I feel terrible. I didn’t mean to get a silkie- it’s a long story but basically I ended up with her. I have a hunch that she’s being targeted for her feather type and being at The bottom of the pecking order. I guess I’m wondering if I should keep trying to keep her with them or try and find someone who keeps silkie’s and she wouldn’t be such sn odd man out


So I’m just looking for advice and perspective! Thank you !

 

[MotherofOrpies]

It is best to get 3 of them, they usually are good friend and form a flock of their own, 3 because if one of them dies, they still have a buddy, else , I would rehome her, if they don’t grow up with the flock, they are usually mobbed, especially since they have a very peaceful nature and don’t fight back

 

[booksandcranies]

It is best to get 3 of them, they usually are good friend and form a flock of their own, 3 because if one of them dies, they still have a buddy, else , I would rehome her, if they don’t grow up with the flock, they are usually mobbed, especially since they have a very peaceful nature and don’t fight back

She did grow up with them- she was an extra that I got as a surprise basically- I honestly expected her to be a rooster because that’s typically how it goes lol, and the did end up giving me a rooster but that’s a different story. But I will probably look into rehoming her as I really don’t want her to be targeted

 

[EggSighted4Life]

So I’m just looking for advice and perspective!

Is some of her beard missing too or is she non beareded? Is she acting scared or running away from flock members? Are you witnessing any concerning behaviors or just this symptom?

I have experienced some (beard) balding before.. and it was based off of grooming rather than pecking.. and yes still by other flock members.. helping pick "something" out.

Looking closely at ALL details may help discern the issue.

 

[booksandcranies]

It is best to get 3 of them, they usually are good friend and form a flock of their own, 3 because if one of them dies, they still have a buddy, else , I would rehome her, if they don’t grow up with the flock, they are usually mobbed, especially since they have a very peaceful nature and don’t fight back

Is some of her beard missing too or is she non beareded? Is she acting scared or running away from flock members? Are you witnessing any concerning behaviors or just this symptom?

I have experienced some (beard) balding before.. and it was based off of grooming rather than pecking.. and yes still by other flock members.. helping pick "something" out.

Looking closely at ALL details may help discern the issue.

She doesn’t seem to scared of them no, she’s walking around with them now- but she does wander on her own alot as well. She does have little cheek puffs/a beard normally. Which is all gone- we had another hen lose her cheek puffs a few weeks ago so I added more boredom toys, more peck blocks and they always get to hang out if one home or my spouse is- it seems to be going well! No more feather picking for any of them- until the other day


But she seems her normal, and I say this with love- dumb self. I’m watching them graze right now and she’s just hanging out with them- if anything I think she does enjoy being able to see more as she’s running around more than she normally does

 

[Loving my girls]

What’s the difference in size between her and the others ?
If she’s a lot smaller I would expect some bullying but she sounds as if she’s comfortable with the others, generally.
There is always bullying with the one at the bottom of the pecking order. My Buffy has learned to run really fast to save the pecking but there has never been any blood.
Was it long ago that blood was drawn ?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

She doesn’t seem to scared of them no, she’s walking around with them now- but she does wander on her own alot as well. She does have little cheek puffs/a beard normally. Which is all gone- we had another hen lose her cheek puffs a few weeks ago so I added more boredom toys, more peck blocks and they always get to hang out if one home or my spouse is- it seems to be going well! No more feather picking for any of them- until the other day


But she seems her normal, and I say this with love- dumb self. I’m watching them graze right now and she’s just hanging out with them- if anything I think she does enjoy being able to see more as she’s running around more than she normally does

Based on this information.. I personally would not be rehoming.. reintegration into another flock is often brutal and Silkies are not so innocent and docile in MY experience.. they are chickens and pecking order is still alive and well.

Sounds like she is still thriving in your flock!

For anecdotal purposes.. I've kept Silkies with large fowl and seen them whoop up on Marans, Orpingtons, and others upto 3 times their size.. Of course it comes down to individual personalities, set up, etc.. I'll add that I'm also in the PNW.. and they go out in the rain just like others.. and free range too.. all the things people said they couldn't do.

Of course if you start to see fear, blood, and brutality.. then reassessment is recommended. Always use your best judgement.

But for today..

 

[booksandcranies]

What’s the difference in size between her and the others ?
If she’s a lot smaller I would expect some bullying but she sounds as if she’s comfortable with the others, generally.
There is always bullying with the one at the bottom of the pecking order. My Buffy has learned to run really fast to save the pecking but there has never been any blood.
Was it long ago that blood was drawn ?

They are all bantams and she’s actually one of the plumper girls/ if not on par in size. There are five of them right now, and they did grow up together


And Just going back in my photo history she was actually attacked last December. I Have no idea who the offending party was as it happened over night- I also had a rooster who has since been rehomed as my flock was just to small for him/ plus he was HUGE.


No injury’s have happened since then. There was some beard/cheek puff pecking that happened to my Easter egger- and that’s when I added more toys to the mix. Nothing happened other than her check feathers got plucked out, not blood.

And then a couple weeks go by (I’m terrible with time! But it was probably 3-4 weeks later) and then I came home and Eggsmerelda was bald. Running around like she had no care in the world

 

[booksandcranies]

Based on this information.. I personally would not be rehoming.. reintegration into another flock is often brutal and Silkies are not so innocent and docile in MY experience.. they are chickens and pecking order is still alive and well.

Sounds like she is still thriving in your flock!

For anecdotal purposes.. I've kept Silkies with large fowl and seen them whoop up on Marans, Orpingtons, and others upto 3 times their size.. Of course it comes down to individual personalities, set up, etc.. I'll add that I'm also in the PNW.. and they go out in the rain just like others.. and free range too.. all the things people said they couldn't do.

Of course if you start to see fear, blood, and brutality.. then reassessment is recommended. Always use your best judgement.

But for today..

Based on this information.. I personally would not be rehoming.. reintegration into another flock is often brutal and Silkies are not so innocent and docile in MY experience.. they are chickens and pecking order is still alive and well.

Sounds like she is still thriving in your flock!

For anecdotal purposes.. I've kept Silkies with large fowl and seen them whoop up on Marans, Orpingtons, and others upto 3 times their size.. Of course it comes down to individual personalities, set up, etc.. I'll add that I'm also in the PNW.. and they go out in the rain just like others.. and free range too.. all the things people said they couldn't do.

Of course if you start to see fear, blood, and brutality.. then reassessment is recommended. Always use your best judgement.

But for today..

I will definitely be keeping a close eye on them, but yeah, it’s just really weird because she seems so normal despite being bald now!

maybe they just wanted her to fit in and look like them- who knows, it’s an ugly haircut but she seems happy- but if things change, and I notice any kind of wounds or bullying, I’ll rehome her to somebody with silkies. But after observing them all day she’s just been running around like normal- the difference being she’s not being startled every couple minutes

 

[Georgia Chickens]

So this is the second time she has been targeted (Eggsmerelda)

The first time was much more dramatic. Blood was drawn, she had a terrible gash on her head. But she healed, i interstates her back into the flock and all was well for 5 more months.

Yesterday I noticed she’s bald!! There is no blood, it didn’t look red or irritated (I was at work all day so I’m unsure when it happened, probably during the night). I mean/ she can see super well now (I say sarcastically)


I feel terrible. I didn’t mean to get a silkie- it’s a long story but basically I ended up with her. I have a hunch that she’s being targeted for her feather type and being at The bottom of the pecking order. I guess I’m wondering if I should keep trying to keep her with them or try and find someone who keeps silkie’s and she wouldn’t be such sn odd man out


So I’m just looking for advice and perspective! Thank you !

She beautiful! Hope she has a happy and healthy life, wherever she lives!