Silkies

[KrissyLou]

I picked up 2 Silkie hens (told over a year old) from a person on Facebook(duh I know) a month ago- (I know nothing about Silkies, my daughter wanted them and I caved lol, I have marans, brahmas and faverolles). Both eating fine. Clear eyes, nose and vent. Just introduced them to my flock/ no issues: and now...the one is great and the other is being quiet, shy and keeping to herself. The bossy one is chatty and loud. She has been chased a few times over food but no real fights but the shy smaller one is being left alone. She is pretty “dumb”. She will not follow the flock, she keeps to herself...she won’t come out of the coop, she is not aware of her surroundings like the others. Did I introduce too soon? Is she secret sick.. Ugh...I have not heard any sneezing and her poop is normal so far. They are both molting now too...I am starting to panic. My other ladies are all running around like fools playing and not laying (too young).

 

[NNYchick]

Is her crest blocking her sight. If I have one that is “acting shy” or being picked on I trim the feathers around the eyes with a mustache trimmer. A lot of times there timid because they can’t see where they are going or the dangers coming at them.

 

[rebrascora]

It's not a great idea to keep silkies with large fowl breeds. They can get picked on or just overwhelmed. It is also very risky adding adult birds to an existing flock but I guess it's too late to consider that now, but I mention it for anyone else reading this that might be contemplating adding to their flock. Chickens can carry some deadly and devastating diseases and still appear perfectly healthy themselves. Some can even pass quite rigorous quarantine? Adding a silkie to my flock is how I believe I introduced Marek's disease.
I would certainly ensure that there are plenty of feeding and water stations (not just one or two, so that she cannot be kept from food and I agree that trimming her crest may help. Also check her eyes. Silkies' eyes can get matted shut and because their eyes are dark and partially covered by their crest you can easily not notice it.
I hope it is just something simple and she picks up soon

 

[KrissyLou]

Is her crest blocking her sight. If I have one that is “acting shy” or being picked on I trim the feathers around the eyes with a mustache trimmer. A lot of times there timid because they can’t see where they are going or the dangers coming at them.

She is all clear. If I physically pick he up and put her il the yard she will walk around and hang out. At night she will just flop down and go to bed wherever she is- while the others go back to the coop- I have to go in the yard to find her and bring her in. And in the morning she won’t come out unless I physically pick her up and put her out. I also gave her a bowl of hard boiled eggs with some dried oatmeal flakes and she tried to eat around the bowl??? So maybe she can’t see I’m general??? I gave her the egg on the ground and she found it? But she can find the water and regular food bowl with feed in it jus fine ‍‍??? And she eats weeds and pecks on the ground...

 

[KrissyLou]

It's not a great idea to keep silkies with large fowl breeds. They can get picked on or just overwhelmed. It is also very risky adding adult birds to an existing flock but I guess it's too late to consider that now, but I mention it for anyone else reading this that might be contemplating adding to their flock. Chickens can carry some deadly and devastating diseases and still appear perfectly healthy themselves. Some can even pass quite rigorous quarantine? Adding a silkie to my flock is how I believe I introduced Marek's disease.
I would certainly ensure that there are plenty of feeding and water stations (not just one or two, so that she cannot be kept from food and I agree that trimming her crest may help. Also check her eyes. Silkies' eyes can get matted shut and because their eyes are dark and partially covered by their crest you can easily not notice it.
I hope it is just something simple and she picks up soon

Fantastic! Lol. My guys were vaccinated for Merck’s but I’m sure these Silkies were not. My hens are ignoring her completely, she has full access to food and water. I’ll give her a bath this weekend and double check her eyes and everything else too. Thanks everyone...

 

[NNYchick]

Try holding her up eye level with you, if you can see her eyes she’s good if you can’t then she has vision problems from her crest. My Silkies do the same thing though. They don’t roost or use ramps because they can’t fly they don’t like to be off the ground. Mine go out and eat grass and bugs but are not as active about it as my neighbors large fowl, they mainly like to sit in the grass and sunshine watching the world go by, they also don’t go in at dusk unless I herd them in.

 

[KrissyLou]

Try holding her up eye level with you, if you can see her eyes she’s good if you can’t then she has vision problems from her crest. My Silkies do the same thing though. They don’t roost or use ramps because they can’t fly they don’t like to be off the ground. Mine go out and eat grass and bugs but are not as active about it as my neighbors large fowl, they mainly like to sit in the grass and sunshine watching the world go by, they also don’t go in at dusk unless I herd them in.

You are spot on! I had to built a step for her. She won’t use the ramp. Ugh I feel so bad. From the last person maybe I did overwhelm the poor girl. The other one (Ms Bossy) just blending right in. She’s obsessed with my pot belly pig and his finding of food. She too funny- talking super loud and running around. My pig is my “rooster” and she loves him. BUT this little one does just that like you said- she’s just there, super sweet, but there. My coop is huge too- so I bet it’s like a hotel for her. I feel guilty. Hopefully she’s healthy and I can work with her on her happiness moving forward. I spoke to several silkies owners too and a few Breeders and no one was this helpful (insert eye roll). I either should have passed or gotten a tiny house just for these ladies). Thanks!