Silkies and female turkey

[ransom]

Is there a safe way to introduce 5 silkie chicks and a female turkey to my flock of 6 ducks and a 4 yr old silkie rooster. The chicks are in an area where they are sectioned off with the female turkey they were raised together. I would like to open the gate and let the chicks out with the turkey with the other birds. I may have one male out of the chicks, I'm not sure yet. Will my rooster kill that chick that may be a male? Is there a way to introduce them safely like opening up the gate to the others at night? Any way to really tell if some of the chicks are going to be roosters? Hopefully, someone can help me with the questions I have. I have had chickens in the past but never Silkies.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

How old are the silkie chicks? If they are chicks, they will not be able to be integrated until they are a few months old, closer to 4 or 5 months. There isn't anything like integrating chickens with ducks as they both do their own thing, but you cannot have a male duck around chickens as they will injure them by trying to have sex with them.

Your silkie rooster will most likely not hurt the younger silkies. If one of those younger silkies is a rooster, eventually they may fight but not all do...they may just get along.

If you post pictures of your silkies, get us a head shot showing their combs and another one from the side, showing their head and neck. We can try tell you their sexes if they're old enough. Usually they have to be at least 3 months old, preferably 4 to be able to discern sexes.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome back to BYC! Nice to meet you.
Good luck with that integration.

 

[PimsGarden]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

How old are the silkie chicks? If they are chicks, they will not be able to be integrated until they are a few months old, closer to 4 or 5 months. There isn't anything like integrating chickens with ducks as they both do their own thing, but you cannot have a male duck around chickens as they will injure them by trying to have sex with them.

Your silkie rooster will most likely not hurt the younger silkies. If one of those younger silkies is a rooster, eventually they may fight but not all do...they may just get along.

If you post pictures of your silkies, get us a head shot showing their combs and another one from the side, showing their head and neck. We can try tell you their sexes if they're old enough. Usually they have to be at least 3 months old, preferably 4 to be able to discern sexes.

We have ducks with chickens together at my work and the male ducks don't bother the chickens. There is also a turkey, she even fought off a hawk to save the chickens and ducks!

 

[The Coop Crew]

Welcome to the community and good luck!

 

[sourland]

Hello, and a belated welcome to BYC. A closely monitored integration will be necessary given all the variables you are dealing with.

 

[ransom]

Hiya, and welcome to BYC!

How old are the silkie chicks? If they are chicks, they will not be able to be integrated until they are a few months old, closer to 4 or 5 months. There isn't anything like integrating chickens with ducks as they both do their own thing, but you cannot have a male duck around chickens as they will injure them by trying to have sex with them.

Your silkie rooster will most likely not hurt the younger silkies. If one of those younger silkies is a rooster, eventually they may fight but not all do...they may just get along.

If you post pictures of your silkies, get us a head shot showing their combs and another one from the side, showing their head and neck. We can try tell you their sexes if they're old enough. Usually they have to be at least 3 months old, preferably 4 to be able to discern sexes.

I purchased them 12 weeks ago, April 25. They were just a few days old, got them with the turkey that I hoped was a boy but she is all girl. I will try and get some head shots of them. I have irrigation so It will take me a few minutes. One of the chicks has a bigger head then the other 4 so I was thinking possibly that one is a rooster... I will post in a few minutes here.

 

[ransom]

Hello and welcome back to BYC! Nice to meet you.
Good luck with that integration.

Thanks!

 

[ransom]

We have ducks with chickens together at my work and the male ducks don't bother the chickens. There is also a turkey, she even fought off a hawk to save the chickens and ducks!

The turkey and the chicks being raised together do really good. At one point I had put her out in the pen and kept the other babies inside but she kept calling to them so I put her back in the house for 2 more weeks and put them all out together, they are a bit bonded. The babies used to sleep next to her and on top of her. She was really good to them and I have to say it was a good idea to get the turkey at the same time because she seemed to be very caring and her heat helped the others even though there was a heat light. The silkie chicks are 12 weeks and maybe 3 days now. I will try and post pictures in a few minutes, and thank you.

 

[ransom]

In the past I haven't had any issues with the male ducks and my bigger chicken. The male ducks have their own girls with them. I have had my silkie Roster [Romeo], for about 4 years and then I had a larger female chicken [different breed], but she passed so I finally got some other silkie chicks hoping for at least 4 females...5 would be good too. I just didn't think it was fair to have a male and not have any other females for him....