Silkies or Polish?

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Here is an interesting thread about house chickens, there are an amazing number of them https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/299187/people-with-house-chickens
If you keep the pool it it would need to be fenced off or covered so the birds can't get in it... a scared chicken could just run or fall in the pool even if it normally wouldn't go near it, and something like a silkie isn't going to do much swimming. One thing to check is if you have many hawks in the area, they are going to be the big problem with leaving your silkies loose in the yard even if someone is there. With other predators your coop/run need to be really secure, raccoons would have no problem getting over a six foot wooden fence, check out the predator forum for ways to deal with the predators in your area.

 

[ronkonkoma]

Thank you so much for the link. A lot of info to sort through

 

[sourland]

As long as you are there with them I don't see any problem with you letting them out free ranging. Some silkies have very large poofs on their heads and it makes it harder for them to see. Some people have house chickens. Chickens create a lot of dust. If anyone has an allergy or asthma having house chickens isn't a good idea because of the dust.

X 2 Both silkies and Polish can have diminished vision because of their crests making them more vulnerable to flying predators. Supervised free ranging would probably be a good idea.

 

[ronkonkoma]

Thanks. You are all so kind and helpful

 

[drumstick diva]

Silkies are sitting ducks for predators - I would keep them in an enclosed run with top to keep hawks out. You can improve their vision if you cut the crest and beards back but, then they couldn't be shown. They make good house pets - my friend has had many silkies over the past 25 years or so and they ended up watching tv with her,etc. She doesn't diaper them - just cleans up after them all the time. If they would wear a chicken diaper - that would need to be cleaned out often as well.

 

[Mouse68]

I live where we have hawks, vultures, and owls. My girls have a 10 x 10 dog pen around the coop with chicken wire on top. Free ranging is too risky for me.