TWO FLOCKS AS ONE.

[Sierra Hughes]

I have a flock of seven which consist of
3 Bantam Roos
1 Cochin hen
2 barred rock hens
1 jersey giant hen.

They are only a couple weeks older than my other flock I got shortly after them,
Which consist of
3 silkie hens and 1 silkie roo.

I still have the silkies inside in a pen.. in my laundry room and my first flock is outside in the coop. Just built a 18x18 fully wired run for them all. I need advice on how to Integrade the two.


****i wasn't suppose to have this many Roos. Hopefully finding homes soon.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

What are your plans for a coop?

Silkies don't always mix well with large breed birds as they can be overrun by them. (Having said that, some very much hold their own).

You have mostly...what...about 12 week old birds now? Not quite fully grown? Still the Silkies aren't grown yet either. Large birds can actually hurt Silkies by pecking on their heads at the crests (has to do with the way their skulls are formed).

I think the best way would be to put a temporary wire divider in the run and have the two flocks side by side just looking at each other for a few days to perhaps a week. Then you can open up the divider and see how it goes.

Keep food and water at separate ends with hiding places for the smaller birds. (I'm assuming you've got cover for them all somewhere.

It can take several weeks to sometimes several months for separate flocks to integrate, with a lot of order pecking...of which you want to protect your Silkies from being unduly hazed.

And like I said, sometimes you simply can't let Silkies (and often bantams) run in a large fowl flock. Good news is it appears you've only got about 4 large hens...the rest will be bantam size.

LofMc

 

[Sierra Hughes]

What are your plans for a coop?

Silkies don't always mix well with large breed birds as they can be overrun by them. (Having said that, some very much hold their own).

You have mostly...what...about 12 week old birds now? Not quite fully grown? Still the Silkies aren't grown yet either. Large birds can actually hurt Silkies by pecking on their heads at the crests (has to do with the way their skulls are formed).

I think the best way would be to put a temporary wire divider in the run and have the two flocks side by side just looking at each other for a few days to perhaps a week. Then you can open up the divider and see how it goes.

Keep food and water at separate ends with hiding places for the smaller birds. (I'm assuming you've got cover for them all somewhere.

It can take several weeks to sometimes several months for separate flocks to integrate, with a lot of order pecking...of which you want to protect your Silkies from being unduly hazed.

And like I said, sometimes you simply can't let Silkies (and often bantams) run in a large fowl flock. Good news is it appears you've only got about 4 large hens...the rest will be bantam size.

LofMc

Thank you for that!
I have a coop outside with four walls and a small run in it, so I recently built on the run (much bigger) that the coop will be in. That being said.. I do only have one coop. As my silkies are in a Great Dane sized dog pen right now.

Maybe put that crate outside with a metal top for shade, with the other flock?

I only have three full size hens and all the rest are bantams. I'll be patient and work with them.

I'm still deciding on what to do at night. The flock that's outside obviously sleep in coop and since my silkies are indoor in the crate.. not sure what to do there.
Probably will take awhile before they all sleep in the coop together.


Also, I have another question. I'll post a photo of the coop I have currently.

Could I just lock them up at night inside the red Barnes coop/run, inside the huge run that's pictured? Or should I still lock them up in the fully closed in coop area.

At night they like to roost on the bar that's on the outside of the indoor area, but still in the indoor of the small wired area. (I'm sorry if this has got so confusing) haha

 

[Sierra Hughes]

What are your plans for a coop?

Silkies don't always mix well with large breed birds as they can be overrun by them. (Having said that, some very much hold their own).

You have mostly...what...about 12 week old birds now? Not quite fully grown? Still the Silkies aren't grown yet either. Large birds can actually hurt Silkies by pecking on their heads at the crests (has to do with the way their skulls are formed).

I think the best way would be to put a temporary wire divider in the run and have the two flocks side by side just looking at each other for a few days to perhaps a week. Then you can open up the divider and see how it goes.

Keep food and water at separate ends with hiding places for the smaller birds. (I'm assuming you've got cover for them all somewhere.

It can take several weeks to sometimes several months for separate flocks to integrate, with a lot of order pecking...of which you want to protect your Silkies from being unduly hazed.

And like I said, sometimes you simply can't let Silkies (and often bantams) run in a large fowl flock. Good news is it appears you've only got about 4 large hens...the rest will be bantam size.

LofMc

Also, both flocks are 2 1/2 weeks apart in age. Not a big difference. But naturally the silkies were much smaller.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It all depends upon your predators and how determined they are.

For almost 3 years I got away with just locking my run doors and left the pop door (coop door) open so the birds could let themselves out in the "prison run" (while I gained a little extra shut eye)....then I'd go out and open the run gates to let them free range.

Then I had a kill by a coon in the nest box. So I locked up for awhile.

After a few peaceful years, I had a coon take 3 of my best hens....one night after the next as he figured out how to can opener my run....so now I always lock the birds in the coops. However, you may not need to.

It is hard to tell in the photo, but I think 4 hens probably pretty well maxes out your coop...what is it supposed to hold? About 3 to 4...6 if bantams?

Silkies don't always want to roost on a bar. Many like to nest and sleep on the floor (especially your broody girls). You may be able to create a "downstairs" for them below your barn coop that locks.

Anyway, if your outside larger run is secure enough, then by all means, put everyone in the little red barn (if big enough) inside the larger run and let them have access to the larger run.

LofMc

 

[Sierra Hughes]

It all depends upon your predators and how determined they are.

For almost 3 years I got away with just locking my run doors and left the pop door (coop door) open so the birds could let themselves out in the "prison run" (while I gained a little extra shut eye)....then I'd go out and open the run gates to let them free range.

Then I had a kill by a coon in the nest box. So I locked up for awhile.

After a few peaceful years, I had a coon take 3 of my best hens....one night after the next as he figured out how to can opener my run....so now I always lock the birds in the coops. However, you may not need to.

It is hard to tell in the photo, but I think 4 hens probably pretty well maxes out your coop...what is it supposed to hold? About 3 to 4...6 if bantams?

Silkies don't always want to roost on a bar. Many like to nest and sleep on the floor (especially your broody girls). You may be able to create a "downstairs" for them below your barn coop that locks.

Anyway, if your outside larger run is secure enough, then by all means, put everyone in the little red barn (if big enough) inside the larger run and let them have access to the larger run.

LofMc

Thank you SO much!! I may make a bottom area in the red barn and board it up too. I want them to be extra safe. I'm also putting chicken wire in the dirt around the big run. I'm doing all I can to try and make sure they are safe.

I'm sorry about your hens. That's devastating.. I couldn't even imagine.

Hopefully my goats will keep some stuff away.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

...and yes, you could definitely put the Silkies in the large dog crate (is it wire...perfect if it is) inside the large run and let them mingle that way safely too.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

If you make a "downstairs"...I'd put the lock door on the backside so that the doors open at opposite ends. That way your Silkies can get in and out without having to go through the main run...you could set a low roost bar in the low part for the Silkies.

You can see the ramp for the "proper door." Make a downstairs for the Silkies below with the square the size of the barn above...board up (with air flow spaces) 3 sides, and form the door on the backside to open into the pen for the Silkies. You should have enough room for everyone too roost then...but they would definitely want out first thing in the morning as that's not a lot of room...it essentially would make the whole thing the lockable "coop proper."

You'll also need to set in at least one nesting box. It can be practically anything that allows for a 9 x 12 inch nest with lower lip sides for Silkies.

Enjoy your new little flock.

LofMc

 

[barred2rock]

Thank you SO much!! I may make a bottom area in the red barn and board it up too. I want them to be extra safe. I'm also putting chicken wire in the dirt around the big run. I'm doing all I can to try and make sure they are safe.

I'm sorry about your hens. That's devastating.. I couldn't even imagine.

Hopefully my goats will keep some stuff away.

Please use 1/2" hardware cloth opposed to chicken wire. Chicken wire will keep chickens in but won't keep predators out.