Silkie thread!

[emvickrey]

Good evening everyone. I'm having a little problem with my Silkie chicks and was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what they have done about it. I have 5, almost 5 week old Silkie chicks . Two of them were fighting this morning and drew blood on each other. I've seperated them since the fight but I can not get them to stop fighting. I don't know if this is a silkie thing or just a chick thing. The one who is getting kind of beat up has revealed himself to be a roo. People have said you need to wait months longer to know but it's pretty obvious. The other doesnt look like a roo yet but I think it is. She raises and drops her feathers behind her neck, do pullets do that this young? Has anyone succeeded in getting two chicks to like each other? It seems like they are at war.

I love them both they're are tied for my favorites so I'm pretty sad. I made a post in raising chicks category but I haven't had much advice on how to get them to get along if it's possible

I would separate them for a couple of days then try re-introducing them. If they still fight leave them apart for longer. I've had chicks fight like this once. After being separated from each other for a while they got along. I don't know if they are both boys or not but I have had girls fight with boys before. I thought I had 2 boys but turned out it was boy and girl.

 

[Adorkable]

Good evening everyone. I'm having a little problem with my Silkie chicks and was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what they have done about it. I have 5, almost 5 week old Silkie chicks . Two of them were fighting this morning and drew blood on each other. I've seperated them since the fight but I can not get them to stop fighting. I don't know if this is a silkie thing or just a chick thing. The one who is getting kind of beat up has revealed himself to be a roo. People have said you need to wait months longer to know but it's pretty obvious. The other doesnt look like a roo yet but I think it is. She raises and drops her feathers behind her neck, do pullets do that this young? Has anyone succeeded in getting two chicks to like each other? It seems like they are at war.

I love them both they're are tied for my favorites so I'm pretty sad. I made a post in raising chicks category but I haven't had much advice on how to get them to get along if it's possible

awww sorry about your chicky babies. I had a broody silkie hatch out 6 and 5 were boys. As soon as I could identify the boys I moved the mom and the 1 girl into a larger coop and left the 5 boys alone. As they got older they started to fight a bit and spar with each other, but they never drew blood. If you decide on putting them back together just make sure they have enough room to run away from the more aggressive one. I also had cinder blocks and old milk crates in their run that they would jump up on to get away from the more dominant ones. I no longer have them, but they had a good size run and they would chase each other around and fight and stuff and it never got really bad. Once they figure out who the 'boss' is the less dominant ones would always just run away from the others. I miss those silkie roosters. I would sit in the run with them and watch them for hours. They were so nice to me.

 

[dandymandie]

I would separate them for a couple of days then try re-introducing them. If they still fight leave them apart for longer. I've had chicks fight like this once. After being separated from each other for a while they got along. I don't know if they are both boys or not but I have had girls fight with boys before. I thought I had 2 boys but turned out it was boy and girl.

Thank you! I separated them from 11 am to about 3 pm when I had a chance to get home on my lunch break and make sure everything was fine. I have her in a tote with another chick that she gets along with. Otherwise they all cry. After I tried putting her back in earlier and she continued to pick on and syalk the roo.. I'll keep them separated longer I hope that works!

 

[Fancychooklady]

Good evening everyone. I'm having a little problem with my Silkie chicks and was wondering if anyone else has had this experience and what they have done about it. I have 5, almost 5 week old Silkie chicks . Two of them were fighting this morning and drew blood on each other. I've seperated them since the fight but I can not get them to stop fighting. I don't know if this is a silkie thing or just a chick thing. The one who is getting kind of beat up has revealed himself to be a roo. People have said you need to wait months longer to know but it's pretty obvious. The other doesnt look like a roo yet but I think it is. She raises and drops her feathers behind her neck, do pullets do that this young? Has anyone succeeded in getting two chicks to like each other? It seems like they are at war. I love them both they're are tied for my favorites so I'm pretty sad. I made a post in raising chicks category but I haven't had much advice on how to get them to get along if it's possible

Chest bumping and sparing is normal chick behaviour. Pullets do it too. So long as they aren't drawing blood I would leave them be. Distraction is the best medicine. Put a pumpkin or some lettuce (whatever is in season ) in the pen with them. This will distract them a little . Also be sure they have plenty of space.

 

[dandymandie]

awww sorry about your chicky babies. I had a broody silkie hatch out 6 and 5 were boys. As soon as I could identify the boys I moved the mom and the 1 girl into a larger coop and left the 5 boys alone. As they got older they started to fight a bit and spar with each other, but they never drew blood. If you decide on putting them back together just make sure they have enough room to run away from the more aggressive one. I also had cinder blocks and old milk crates in their run that they would jump up on to get away from the more dominant ones. I no longer have them, but they had a good size run and they would chase each other around and fight and stuff and it never got really bad. Once they figure out who the 'boss' is the less dominant ones would always just run away from the others. I miss those silkie roosters. I would sit in the run with them and watch them for hours. They were so nice to me.

I think that's a great point!!! Maybe they need more space!? They aren't fully feathered yet and its a little cold at night so they aren't outside yet but space might be an issue. The roo hides in a corner when the other chick is in the brooder and tries to get away but the other just stalks her. :/ I will give them a break from each other and take that time to make a bigger brooding space. Thanks so much!

 

[drumstick diva]

They may even be fighting over who got more attention from you. Who knows what goes on inside a chickens brain. They are old enough to start fighting over pecking order.

 

[dandymandie]

Chest bumping and sparing is normal chick behaviour. Pullets do it too. So long as they aren't drawing blood I would leave them be. Distraction is the best medicine. Put a pumpkin or some lettuce (whatever is in season ) in the pen with them. This will distract them a little . Also be sure they have plenty of space.

Thanks! They are really fighting. Drawing blood and pecking out feathers. It was pretty scary, they were fine one moment everyone looked great. The next thing I know I hear them practically screaming and they were both bloody on their combs and their heads.

 

[dandymandie]

They may even be fighting over who got more attention from you.  Who  knows what goes on inside a chickens brain.  They are old enough to start fighting over pecking order.

Yeah the little one DOES love to go for my hand looking for banana or lettuce or, oh gosh, meal worms!!! Lol but this was very different . I wasn't near them at all and it started out of nowhere . She's been seperated but when I try to introduce her again she continues to stalk and attack the other! Theyve been through the chest bumping and lowering their heads to each other the other 3 get along fine its just these two.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Thanks! They are really fighting. Drawing blood and pecking out feathers. It was pretty scary, they were fine one moment everyone looked great. The next thing I know I hear them practically screaming and they were both bloody on their combs and their heads.

If they are ' feathered in ' I put them outside at 5-6 weeks. Not sure how big your brooder is but sounds like space or lack of it, could be the problem.

 

[dandymandie]

If they are ' feathered in ' I put them outside at 5-6 weeks. Not sure how big your brooder is but sounds like space or lack of it, could be the problem.

I agree. I think more space will keep the two from fighting and separation. They are just a little under five weeks right now. And we have had chilly weather. I'm going to use this separation time to make a larger brooder, see if that helps when I reintroduce her. Its just that this little chick is sort of stalking and almost instigating fights, she's totally fine with everyone else in the brooder when I remove the roo. :/ and shes never done anything like this before . Its like she changed over night! Thank you for the help!