Silkie hen suddenly getting bullied by larger hen - how can I help?

[Ashannon91]

Hi everyone - I started with a mixed flock about 6 months ago. 2 RIRs, 1 CCLB, 3 silkies (2 ended up being roos). I am down to 2 silkies because I had to rehome one of the roosters so far due to his crowing in city limits. Anyway - the 2 RIRs started laying at the beginning of the month and my silkie hen just started laying this last week! As soon as she started laying - there seemed to be an increase in bullying by one of the RIRs. We free range 99% of the time so the silkie manages to get away / no bloodshed yet.

Would I be able to safely introduce 2 new silkie hens to this flock & would that be a way to reduce bullying? I will eventually have to rehome the other silkie roo - leaving me with only one silkie... I would love for her to have some friends if it can be done safely. If there are other options - please let me know!

 

[Battlepants]

One theory I've heard for bullying is to try to shake up the pecking order. Remove the bullies from the flock for a day or so, then re-introduce them back one at a time (1 day between each reintroduction). This forces them to take the role of the new chicken to the flock. They will get bullied a bit but this may effectively knock them down the ranks on the pecking order. Hopefully this makes the new top of the pecking order someone who will peck, but not damage.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Flock dynamics is a very fluid thing. Especially when all the pullets start laying, things can change. I have raised Silkies with standard birds and they all got along quite well. Two of the Silkies were actually the lead hens! Then unexpectedly, and without any real explanation, one of the lower pecking order birds started trying to kill the Silkies. Ended up having to remove the Silkies from the mixed flock and I rehomed the bully.
There are many ways to deal with this. Depends on how you feel about your individual birds. Silkies are usually at risk of being bullied. If you have any with a vaulted skull they have risk of being killed or acquiring a traumatic brain injury if pecked on top of their heads. I no longer keep my Silkies with my standards because of this.

 

[Ashannon91]

Flock dynamics is a very fluid thing. Especially when all the pullets start laying, things can change. I have raised Silkies with standard birds and they all got along quite well. Two of the Silkies were actually the lead hens! Then unexpectedly, and without any real explanation, one of the lower pecking order birds started trying to kill the Silkies. Ended up having to remove the Silkies from the mixed flock and I rehomed the bully.
There are many ways to deal with this. Depends on how you feel about your individual birds. Silkies are usually at risk of being bullied. If you have any with a vaulted skull they have risk of being killed or acquiring a traumatic brain injury if pecked on top of their heads. I no longer keep my Silkies with my standards because of this.

How can I tell whether or not the silkie has a vaulted skull? Also - would it be possible to set up a separate coop for the silkie hen and bring in another 2 silkie hens (to give her a girl gang)? Or would it still be just as dangerous because I'd allow them to free range with the standards?

 

[thelkkl]

Hi everyone - I started with a mixed flock about 6 months ago. 2 RIRs, 1 CCLB, 3 silkies (2 ended up being roos). I am down to 2 silkies because I had to rehome one of the roosters so far due to his crowing in city limits. Anyway - the 2 RIRs started laying at the beginning of the month and my silkie hen just started laying this last week! As soon as she started laying - there seemed to be an increase in bullying by one of the RIRs. We free range 99% of the time so the silkie manages to get away / no bloodshed yet.

Would I be able to safely introduce 2 new silkie hens to this flock & would that be a way to reduce bullying? I will eventually have to rehome the other silkie roo - leaving me with only one silkie... I would love for her to have some friends if it can be done safely. If there are other options - please let me know!

I’ve a lot of bully problems with my Silkie hens. One in particular gets bullied by my two Old English hens. They’ve lived together in separate side by side pens for two years now, and I still have to keep them separated. Usually they have no problems free ranging together, but yesterday my poor little silkie girl got really badly beaten up, still not sure if she is going to make it. I love having silkies so much that I’ve decided to rehome my two Old English. I’m not sure how so many people keep a mixed flock with silkies. It seems impossible.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

I’ve a lot of bully problems with my Silkie hens. One in particular gets bullied by my two Old English hens. They’ve lived together in separate side by side pens for two years now, and I still have to keep them separated. Usually they have no problems free ranging together, but yesterday my poor little silkie girl got really badly beaten up, still not sure if she is going to make it. I love having silkies so much that I’ve decided to rehome my two Old English. I’m not sure how so many people keep a mixed flock with silkies. It seems impossible.

So sorry about your Silkie. I hope she pulls through.

 

[LadiesAndJane]

How can I tell whether or not the silkie has a vaulted skull? Also - would it be possible to set up a separate coop for the silkie hen and bring in another 2 silkie hens (to give her a girl gang)? Or would it still be just as dangerous because I'd allow them to free range with the standards?

Sorry I did not see this earlier. Easy to tell if the skull is vaulted as chicks. With adults if you feel the head gently, you can feel the soft rounded "bump". Vault size can vary. Sometimes easiest to tell if you get the crest feathers wet.
I personally would not risk Silkies with the standards, even in a free range situation.

 

[Mrs. K]

Often what works well when they are growing up, starts not to work as they reach full size. I think that is where you are. Being raised together really have almost no influence in pecking order and skirmishes.

I too, am with the camp that says, put the silkies separate.

Mrs K

 

[lacychappell4]

I have a mixed flock of Bantams with the same temperament. I have Silkies , Frizzle Cochins and , a Sultan Bantam rooster . I would never free range or keep my Silkies or Bantams with standard size chickens again. I had Naked Necks that were raised with my Sikie Bantams after they all feathered out the Naked Necks killed 1 silkie and a frizzled cochin .they were rehomed .now I only have Bantams

 

[lacychappell4]

I have a mixed flock of Bantams with the same temperament. I have Silkies , Frizzle Cochins and , a Sultan Bantam rooster . I would never free range or keep my Silkies or Bantams with standard size chickens again. I had Naked Necks that were raised with my Sikie Bantams after they all feathered out the Naked Necks killed 1 silkie and a frizzled cochin .they were rehomed .now I only have Bantams

I now only have silkies and a Silkie / polish rooster . My Cochins and sultans were badly bullying my Silkies so they were re-homed also . I would never mix Silkies with other breeds now