Okay, so you're saying that they were both laying before you bought them? Six months is a little on the early side to be laying. But if they were both laying and you brought them home, it's not uncommon for ALL chickens to stop laying due to stress and change of scenery for up to two weeks. It's not a silkie thing. Do you know for sure that they were both laying prior to you purchasing them?
Ah ha! Okay, if she told you they were both laying, then they most likely were. I just wasn't sure that you had been told they were and ... Anyway, I imagine they'll start laying again when they settle in. You should be able to introduce 2.5 month olds to older birds. They shouldn't be picked on at that age. Just watch them carefully. Be sure they have met the quarantine period (3 weeks) before you put them together and possibly introduce a bacteria or virus. But if one is pecking the feathers off of the others, I wonder if you could put pinless peepers on a silkie?? I have Peepers on a few of my LF birds. They are mean and peck feathers. Once I put on the Peepers-- no more troubles. I've never never seen one on a silkie before! That would be something worth asking someone else. But the Peepers are cheap and they solve the problem almost instantly! No more picking. Here is one of my own birds with the Pinless Peepers on:
very cool and definetely worth a try, funny though went to show the one who is getting picked on to my neices she squacked a bit when I picked her up. When I let her down the other chicken jumped on her(the feather picker) I am assuming she was protecting her, have never seen this before. So where do I get the chicken pinless peepers, it is worth a try. Otherwise I will have a bald silkie!!!!Ah ha! Okay, if she told you they were both laying, then they most likely were. I just wasn't sure that you had been told they were and ... Anyway, I imagine they'll start laying again when they settle in. You should be able to introduce 2.5 month olds to older birds. They shouldn't be picked on at that age. Just watch them carefully. Be sure they have met the quarantine period (3 weeks) before you put them together and possibly introduce a bacteria or virus. But if one is pecking the feathers off of the others, I wonder if you could put pinless peepers on a silkie?? I have Peepers on a few of my LF birds. They are mean and peck feathers. Once I put on the Peepers-- no more troubles. I've never never seen one on a silkie before! That would be something worth asking someone else. But the Peepers are cheap and they solve the problem almost instantly! No more picking. Here is one of my own birds with the Pinless Peepers on:
Thanks so much Hawkeye, your help is very much appreciated!!!!I have never had any silkies picking feathers, but I have seen mothers peck at their offspring when they are older and wanting to hide under or just being too needy. Also if they are in a tight space, especially if they had a lot more room and I move them in a smaller area. Such as when I put them in a small pen while cleaning their big coop. Just some thoughts.very cool and definetely worth a try, funny though went to show the one who is getting picked on to my neices she squacked a bit when I picked her up. When I let her down the other chicken jumped on her(the feather picker) I am assuming she was protecting her, have never seen this before. So where do I get the chicken pinless peepers, it is worth a try. Otherwise I will have a bald silkie!!!!
Im finally joining in the whole silkie craze, and boy am i happy with this little one. Its topknot is huge, it seems to be healthy, and boy! its feet are feathered like a snow bird!
I bought mine here: http://www.randallburkey.com/Pin-Less-Peepers-10-Pkg/productinfo/10096/very cool and definetely worth a try, funny though went to show the one who is getting picked on to my neices she squacked a bit when I picked her up. When I let her down the other chicken jumped on her(the feather picker) I am assuming she was protecting her, have never seen this before. So where do I get the chicken pinless peepers, it is worth a try. Otherwise I will have a bald silkie!!!!
If you know who the feather picker is, take them out and separate them for a few days. I have large wire dog crates specifically for injured birds or ones that need to be separated for show. Leave the bird in that for about 3 days and see what happens with the others. Usually the dynamic will change. Just be sure that it's not too hot and you find a cool spot for your bird in "jail".
Very cute! That is most likely a vaulted skull on that chick and the "top knot" is called the crest.
OH!! And WELCOME to silkie addiction... I guarantee you that won't be the last silkie you will have.
