Silkies: Do they work with standard birds?

[black_cat]

I agree with other posters you should have at least two Silkies. That way they can hang out together. I have a young mixed flock (none laying yet) of Silkies, Polish and large fowl breeds. I have four Silkies and two Polish and they definitely separate themselves by breed. They all get along pretty well but most of them were raised together. When I introduced some new chicks (the Polish and 3 other chicks) recently two of the older birds were relentless on picking on the new chicks so I actually ended up selling the two most aggressive older pullets and now everybody seems to be in harmony and happy together! Took still a month to integrate the two age groups.

Shoot. I suppose I'll figure it out depending on the situation. I"ll do some more research as well. As I've stated before, I'd really rather have only one silkie. By 'group themselves by breed' do you mean breed, or silkies and large fowl? I'd most likely only have one of each breed, so it would be hard for them to group themselves that way.

 

[black_cat]

I agree with other posters you should have at least two Silkies. That way they can hang out together. I have a young mixed flock (none laying yet) of Silkies, Polish and large fowl breeds. I have four Silkies and two Polish and they definitely separate themselves by breed. They all get along pretty well but most of them were raised together. When I introduced some new chicks (the Polish and 3 other chicks) recently two of the older birds were relentless on picking on the new chicks so I actually ended up selling the two most aggressive older pullets and now everybody seems to be in harmony and happy together! Took still a month to integrate the two age groups.

Do you think that if I were to have a silkie (larger bantam) and a hamburg (smaller standard) their similar sizes could help them group together like the silkies do?

 

[LadiesAndJane]

Shoot. I suppose I'll figure it out depending on the situation. I"ll do some more research as well. As I've stated before, I'd really rather have only one silkie. By 'group themselves by breed' do you mean breed, or silkies and large fowl? I'd most likely only have one of each breed, so it would be hard for them to group themselves that way.

If you raise them all together, they will be fine! I meant that given the choice, the polish chicks hang out together and the silkies hang out together. They though primarily separate themselves into two groups, the older chcks and the younger chicks. By chicks I mean 2 month and 3 month old birds. I understand they will eventually merge into one group when they start laying. Sorry for the confusion. Good luck with your birds!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Just get your birds! One Silkie will in all probability will be fine because they will be raised as part of the flock - esp if they are all different breeds.