UPDATED ~ intergrating Silkies with BIG birds??? (pic heavy)

[sarahsark]

Hi, m2wandc!

I'm about to go through the same thing you're going through... We have eight Buff hens, 10 and a half weeks old, and we're going to acquire some young Silkies some time this month who will be much younger and smaller.

So, if you find out anything, let me know! I would appreciate it.

I don't know about you, but even though my Silkies aren't yet here, I'm already nervous about it.

Good luck integrating them... I think it always depends on the chickens' personalities and breed. For instance, my Buffs are supposed to be really friendly but most of them are quite skittish with me.

I have no idea how they would be with other birds but I know the biggest gal in the bunch is quite dominant over the others even now, and she even chases squirrels out of our yard and cops an attitude with her sisters if they "dare" walk out of the coup before her Highness.

Try putting them in the same run together, but with something good separating them so the little Silkies don't get hurt. Or do it in a monitored setting... personally, I'm thinking the only way I can do it with my mind at ease is with just a couple members of my flock at a time, with the Silkies within arms reach, but maybe that's just me!

 

[m2wandc]

I just called the feed store and they have a large bird cage I could use for a little while...but they suggested the hardware store for a critter cage....

...I'm going to research the options and then if there is a cage that isn't too terribly expensive, I'll buy the cage and put the silkies in it and put the cage in the run with the big birds...

...I'm going to have to wait, because our weather looks like it's almost going to rain??? But 80-90+ weather is around the corner and that is better weather to do this sort of thing...

...I also have to venture into putting my bigger girls outside at night...they are going to be 7 weeks old this weekend and if the weather starts to warm up at night, I'm going to start that process too...lock them up in the coop at night and let them out during the day...

I also have to buy bigger feeders and waterers, because they are now cleaning out their feeders/waterers daily...and at times are dry

(not for long since I check on them ALL DAY LONG)

Well I have hope...maybe these silkies will grow a little more on me soon now that you all are tearing down the wall surrounding my heart

LOL...

I just worry about them or one of them being a roo...ugh! After all this work that would SUCK!

Any indications on telling silkie roos early?

 

[m2wandc]

UPDATE ~ I spent the afternoon wrapping a dog crate with chicken coop wire (because the silkies were able to get thru the slots before hand...they didn't TRY until they got scared by the dog...and going OUT was not a good idea...LOL

Anyhow, I have the silkies in their dog crate coop INSIDE the other chick's coop and all 4 birds are out there...so far the big birds don't really seem that curious, they sniffed and wanted to eat the spinach that was in the crate as well as the spinach that was in their area...(the silkies are new to treats and don't rush them as much, so they had left overs)

The silkies are crusi'n around in their crate coop and the big girls are cruis'n around in the coop...checking them out now and then, but not aggressively or with any great concern...is this a good thing or bad??? I was thinking good...


The silkies are peck'n the dirt (I filled the bottom of their crate with dirt, so they are feeling the natural soil as well now) The silkies don't seem scared of the big girls and only semi freak out when the dogs start to bark near by them...other then that, every one seems decently content...

The weather in the shade is about 74 degrees and the silkies don't seem to be huddling up or anything showing signs of being cold...

OPINIONS THOUGHTS ETC WELCOME!!!

Pictures will follow later tonight

Hard to take pics with all that chicken wire everywhere...but I'll post what I have

 

[m2wandc]

Here are some pictures of the set up...I'm already feeling better about it...

What I have observed today is the BR chick seems more interested in the silkies then the BO chick (not overly concerned, but between the two the BR is paying more attention to the silkies)...and I think the BO has the dominate roll between the BR & BO two...so I'm wondering if the BR wants to keep her position as #2 bird and is scoping out the possible competition? Or trying to assume her position thru the wire on them??? Or just simply curious?

The silkies seem totally comfortable just hanging out in their mini coop...and unphased by the big birds...not sure if they know they are in a safe zone or not?

Here they are when they very first were put in and checking out the big bad world (first time outside as well)

Their final color will be a mystery to me...This view the chick looks gray or white-ish (I guess that's a BLUE) and the feathered feet are growing on me...I wonder do I have to do anything special to keep them clean???

And this view I love...the white fuzz butt and the black everything else...

see from this view, they look blackish gray, but I was told one is a blue and the other a partridge...however, they are starting to look very similar in color (just one is fatter and one is tall and thin)

Also, wondering if you can tell at this point if they are roosters, pullets, whether or not they will have big ball heads or little puffs on top, etc...??? The one with the black & white coloring has a 'waddle' (is that what it's called?) on the top of it's head starting to show...the other one doesn't have one you can see easily...they are 4 weeks old today

 

[RGEISENDORF]

I had the same age difference with mine. I had my coop divided in half and they were on opposite sides. The big girls went out during the day to free range. When the Silkies were about 6 weeks I opened up the divider between them. The girls came in to roost that night and they hopped up into their nesting boxes and didn't seem the least bit fazed by the fact the silkies were sleeping on the straw below them. Of course they had been looking at them for weeks through the wire. They don't roam together during the day, they roam seperate but its been 4 weeks and no problems so far. I think having them in the cage with them is an excellent idea. I would do it for at least a week then maybe open the door. If the silkies get scared they will run back into their cage and the big girls probably won't follow..... I think it will be fine.... oh and your silkies are soooooo cute!