Silkies in an Eglu

[mixedflocker]

My coop is a 12×8 converted shed that we jokingly call the chicken palace. The attached run is 20 x 10, so I thought we could easily fit the 11 standard size and 6 bantams I planned on housing there. The issue is, the more I'm reading, the more I think my Silkies won't be safe housed with the other teenagers.

The only other coop available right now is an Eglu Go Up with extended run. In the past it has been our hospital/quarantine coop. My question is, will it work as a temporary grow-out coop for the 6 Silkie pullets? They will be between 8 and 12 weeks old. They are still fairly small, but I don't want to squash them into an inhumane situation however temporarily. Unfortunately, I promised DH all the chicks would be out of the house before I leave on vacation so there isn't much time or money to put together a new set up before May or June.

 

[aart]

This one?:
https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/eglu_go_up/
As usual, good dimensions aren't given,
but am guessing the coop floor itself is less than 4'x4',
maybe more like 2x3?
Might be tight quarters for 6 birds, unless they are bantams.
Do you have the attached run too?
How long will you be gone?

 

[mixedflocker]

This one?:
https://www.omlet.us/shop/chicken_keeping/eglu_go_up/
As usual, good dimensions aren't given,
but am guessing the coop floor itself is less than 4'x4',
maybe more like 2x3?
Might be tight quarters for 6 birds, unless they are bantams.
Do you have the attached run too?
How long will you be gone?

Attached run with 3 foot extension. They are Bantam and only 1/2 grown ( between 8 and 12 weeks old). I will be gone until the middle of May, DH will be on chicken duty. Right now they are still in a brooder in my dining room. Would it be better just to put them all together in the main coop? The other birds are Bielefelders, Orpingtons, Legbars, and Leghorns. Also babies/teenagers and will be 6 - 8 weeks old when they get kicked out of my house.

 

[Mrs.Megan]

I had 4 full size adults in mine for a few months. They did great. No problems

 

[aart]

Would it be better just to put them all together in the main coop? The other birds are Bielefelders, Orpingtons, Legbars, and Leghorns. Also babies/teenagers and will be 6 - 8 weeks old when they get kicked out of my house.

I dunno...maybe...depends on how much space you have.
How long until you leave?
I integrate chicks young, but am setup to do so:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/integrating-new-birds-at-4-weeks-old.72603/
Silkies might need special attention.
Might depend on your coop and run, can you split off an area for them?
...would eglu fit into your run?

Lots of ways to integrate new birds.
Here's some tips and links.....
Integration Basics:
It's all about territory and resources(space/food/water).
Existing birds will almost always attack new ones to defend their resources.
Understanding chicken behaviors is essential to integrating new birds into your flock.

Confine new birds within sight but physically segregated from older/existing birds for several weeks, so they can see and get used to each other but not physically interact.

In adjacent runs, spread scratch grains along the dividing mesh, best if mesh is just big enough for birds to stick their head thru, so they get used to eating together.

The more space, the better. Birds will peck to establish dominance, the pecked bird needs space to get away. As long as there's no copious blood drawn and/or new bird is not trapped/pinned down and beaten unmercilessly, let them work it out. Every time you interfere or remove new birds, they'll have to start the pecking order thing all over again.

Multiple feed/water stations. Dominance issues are most often carried out over sustenance, more stations lessens the frequency of that issue.

Places for the new birds to hide 'out of line of sight'(but not a dead end trap) and/or up and away from any bully birds. Roosts, pallets or boards leaned up against walls or up on concrete blocks, old chairs tables, branches, logs, stumps out in the run can really help. Lots of diversion and places to 'hide' instead of bare wide open run.

This used to be a better search, new format has reduced it's efficacy, but still:
Read up on integration..... BYC advanced search>titles only>integration
This is good place to start reading, BUT some info is outdated IMO:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[mixedflocker]

Thank you for the excellent advice. I'm not integrating new birds necessarily, just moving them from brooders to the big girl house. No adult birds to speak of right now.

So baby (or I guess teenage) Bielefelders, Legbars, Silkies, Orps and Leghorns. All within a few weeks age of one another. Just to restate from Original Post: 17 birds total. 11 regular size 6 Bantam Silkies. All moving from brooders into a 12× 8 shed coop and 10×20 run OR the Silkies going into a separate Eglu coop with a 6 ft. run for a month to 6 weeks until other arrangements are built. Again, no adults at all. Just young birds in brooders. 200 sq. Ft outdoor run and approx. 64 sq. Ft usable indoor coop space.

Here are some pics of the coop and run from last summer. No longer have any adults that may be in pics.

 

[aart]

Just to restate from Original Post: 17 birds total. 11 regular size 6 Bantam Silkies.

AhhhhOK, so, are silkies are in separate brooder from the others?

 

[mixedflocker]

AhhhhOK, so, are silkies are in separate brooder from the others?

Actually they are in with the legbars as they are tiny and timid still. The other birds are growing like weeds and I'm afraid they might accidentally hurt the little ones with their antics. So they are all in separate brooders.

 

[aart]

So you do kinda have an integration situation.
Have had trouble integrating chicks before (2-6wk range),
and other times no problem at all(tiny 18hr old legbars with 3-4wk SLW's and others in between).

I'd just make an area(s) in the coop to split the chicks if needed.
But first try to put them all in there together at the same time
(takes the territoriality aspect of integration away),
and see what happens.
What are the age ranges?
Any of them still need heat?

 

[mixedflocker]

So you do kinda have an integration situation.
Have had trouble integrating chicks before (2-6wk range),
and other times no problem at all(tiny 18hr old legbars with 3-4wk SLW's and others in between).

I'd just make an area(s) in the coop to split the chicks if needed.
But first try to put them all in there together at the same time
(takes the territoriality aspect of integration away),
and see what happens.
What are the age ranges?
Any of them still need heat?

The youngest will be the Legbars and Bielefelders. Just over 6 weeks at that point. The oldest will be 12 week old Bantam Silkie pullets. Everyone else is in between. They shouldn't need heat as it will be late April when I put them out and we are in far Southern NJ.

Again. Thanks so much for the advice.