Silkie thread!

[jajeanpierre]

PJ Hopkins, do your Silkies mix with your large fowl and turkeys? Do they have run of your two acres with everyone else?

I have my Silkies separate, worried the large fowl roosters will hurt the little Silkies. I also worry that they will be more easily taken by a predator. Right now the little chickens are in my back yard that has chicken wire around the bottom of most of the fence. The LF birds have the rest of my two acres. The wire will discourage a fox coming from the bush side of my property, but my mini Dachshunds can get in from the front so it certainly isn't predator proof. With my little bantam group are a pet quality hatchery Silkie cockerel that has never done anything to make me need to send him to freezer camp and a double-copy frizzle bantam Cochin cockerel.

Lately, two of my LF Ameraucana cockerels have been getting into my back yard. I've even found the LF cockerels roosting with all the bantams, including the two bantam cockerels, when I've closed them up for the night. Fortunately, the two bantam cockerels are smart enough to know not to start anything with the big cockerels.

After the winter, the little chickens won't be in the back yard (worried about flies) except for the Silkie and bantam Cochin cockerels. Is it feasible to let the Silkies run with the LF over two acres? Personally, I think I am pushing it letting them in the back yard. The LF Ameraucanas seem to be very vigilant, protecting their flock. The Silkies don't respond to alarm calls from the LF cockerels, my parrots or my neighbors birds (peacocks, geese and roosters) as the well as the LF Ameraucanas do. The Ameraucanas are all on alert and quickly move for cover at the first hint of danger. The Silkies don't seem to take alarm calls as seriously.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

 

[kmollyhughes]

PJ Hopkins, do your Silkies mix with your large fowl and turkeys?  Do they have run of your two acres with everyone else?

I have my Silkies separate, worried the large fowl roosters will hurt the little Silkies.  I also worry that they will be more easily taken by a predator.  Right now the little chickens are in my back yard that has chicken wire around the bottom of most of the fence.  The LF birds have the rest of my two acres.  The wire will discourage a fox coming from the bush side of my property, but my mini Dachshunds can get in from the front so it certainly isn't predator proof.  With my little bantam group are a pet quality hatchery Silkie cockerel that has never done anything to make me need to send him to  freezer camp and a double-copy frizzle bantam Cochin cockerel.

Lately, two of my LF Ameraucana cockerels have been getting into my back yard.  I've even found the LF cockerels roosting with all the bantams, including the two bantam cockerels, when I've closed them up for the night.  Fortunately, the two bantam cockerels are smart enough to know not to start anything with the big cockerels.

After the winter, the little chickens won't be in the back yard (worried about flies) except for the Silkie and bantam Cochin cockerels.  Is it feasible to let the Silkies run with the LF over two acres?  Personally, I think I am pushing it letting them in the back yard.  The LF Ameraucanas seem to be very vigilant, protecting their flock.  The Silkies don't respond to alarm calls from the LF cockerels, my parrots or my neighbors birds (peacocks, geese and roosters) as the well as the LF Ameraucanas do.  The Ameraucanas are all on alert and quickly move for cover at the first hint of danger.  The Silkies don't seem to take alarm calls as seriously.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

My silkies, sizzles, polish are all penned up with LF. Ducks, all kinds of bigger chickens. They free range all day. For the most part the bantams stay closer to their run and trees. It took two close calls from hawk attacks and my huge LF mixed roo to teach the whole flock to really be vigilant. There are two roos, silkie and smooth sizzle, in a large run with the big boy, and 3 drakes. We don't have any issues. The big boy mounts big girls, smooth sizzle covers silkies and sizzles...and the silkie roo has always been a little confused and has never even tried mounting anyone in 9 months. Lol. Put them together, they do fine with enough space and they'll learn to listen to predator warnings.

 

[jajeanpierre]

My silkies, sizzles, polish are all penned up with LF. Ducks, all kinds of bigger chickens. They free range all day. For the most part the bantams stay closer to their run and trees. It took two close calls from hawk attacks and my huge LF mixed roo to teach the whole flock to really be vigilant. There are two roos, silkie and smooth sizzle, in a large run with the big boy, and 3 drakes. We don't have any issues. The big boy mounts big girls, smooth sizzle covers silkies and sizzles...and the silkie roo has always been a little confused and has never even tried mounting anyone in 9 months. Lol. Put them together, they do fine with enough space and they'll learn to listen to predator warnings.

I'm a little confused--your Silkies, sizzles and Polish free range? Or do you pen them?

My Ameraucanas are quite vigilant, but the others are not. The two flocks are separate and I wonder if I can combine them. If I did, they would be free ranging on almost two acres. I'm worried about the Polish, the frizzled Cochins and the Silkies.

 

[kmollyhughes]

I'm a little confused--your Silkies, sizzles and Polish free range?  Or do you pen them?

My Ameraucanas are quite vigilant, but the others are not.  The two flocks are separate and I wonder if I can combine them.  If I did, they would be free ranging on almost two acres.  I'm worried about the Polish, the frizzled Cochins and the Silkies.

They have a large run connected to the two coops that are completely open all day. We just go out and lock the run at night. Our 5 acre property is fenced, we don't have raccoons or anything this far from our river. Coyotes pace behind our main fence and we have hawks but haven't lost one of our 50 +/- flock yet. Our big roo is always the protector and the bantams learned to listen to his calls even when there is over an acre between them. You'll see that your bigger roos know the bantams aren't competition if they all have their girls or the little guys don't try to mount the LF girls.

 

[jajeanpierre]

They have a large run connected to the two coops that are completely open all day. We just go out and lock the run at night. Our 5 acre property is fenced, we don't have raccoons or anything this far from our river. Coyotes pace behind our main fence and we have hawks but haven't lost one of our 50 +/- flock yet. Our big roo is always the protector and the bantams learned to listen to his calls even when there is over an acre between them. You'll see that your bigger roos know the bantams aren't competition if they all have their girls or the little guys don't try to mount the LF girls.

That would be fantastic if I could let them out together. They would be so much happier in a bigger space. For the winter, they are fine in my back yard, but come spring, I don't want chickens so close to the house. I'm brand new to chickens and how I originally planned to keep them has changed over time.

Two of my LF cockerels have hopped the fence and have even gone inside the bantam chickens' coop. The bantam cockerels have been smart enough to not challenge the big guys. The LF cockerels are really vigilant, picking up warnings from my parrots and the neighbor's birds. They'll even growl if I mess with the little bantams that aren't part of their flock. They are good guard roosters.

My property is fenced, but I don't believe it would keep out a fox or coyote. I have yet to see a raccoon, but I am sure they are around. I think my pit bull mix is a big deterrent.

Do you keep your bantam roosters with your LF roosters?

 

[kmollyhughes]

Yes. They're all together. 40+ hens, 3 roos, and ducks. No problems at all. With them out all the time they don't have time to sit and pick at each other. Even with the snow we've had and there being less space to roam since they hate snow we haven't had issues.

 

[B J Hopkins]

Jajeanpierre-I have 3 fowl houses. 1 for my LF chickens; 35 adults & teanagers. 1 for the Silkys-15. 1 for the 8 Turkey. During the day they all free range, sometimes mingling & sometimes in sm groups. I don't have an adult Silky Roo right now so I have caught my EE roo trying to mount a Silky hen. Previous Silky roos have fiercely protected their females & babies from the LF chickens AND turkeys! My turkeys sound warnings, the LF roos sound warning & my previous Silky roos sound warnings. They all run for cover. Sometimes my Silky hens hatch & rear LF chicks. That might be a reason everybody gets along.

 

[Jharper]

I think my chick is a pullet!!!!!

 

[bantambury]

I think my chick is a pullet!!!!!

hey! that's awesome! do you know what color? I have a splash and a white roo!


post a pic of her! if you don't know her color I could tell you!

 

[Jharper]

hey! that's awesome! do you know what color? I have a splash and a white roo! post a pic of her! if you don't know her color I could tell you!

She's white. Like PURE white when she's not getting muddy. Lol! I'm pretty good with the colors. I've got a paint too with her.