Will 2 silkies be okay with 4 bigger hens?

[twouglyducks]

I have 4 hens, 8-10 weeks old. There are 2 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sexlink and 1 red production, I believe. A few weeks after we got them, I finally found some silkie chicks near me and got three. One didn't make it so now we have just the 2, 4 weeks old so no idea of sex yet.

My question: I recently read that you need more of the small breeds to integrate them with the larger ones and avoid bullying. How true is this or is it, like so many things, dependant on my particular chickens? I'd hate to need to keep them separate forever.
I would also rather not get more chicks right now (besides being really hard to find) but will do that if it is beneficial to everyone. Would any smaller breeds around the same age work to, hopefully, prevent bullying?

Picture of one of the girls from a couple of weeks ago. She was annoyed I didn't have any clover for her.

 

[Gaming ducky]

Show a picture of the size comparison

 

[Gaming ducky]

I would say they would be ok together but put them next to each other to see

 

[aart]

My question: I recently read that you need more of the small breeds to integrate them with the larger ones and avoid bullying. How true is this or is it, like so many things, dependant on my particular chickens?

Not true....but silkies can be at a disadvantage due to their inability to see well with the floppy top. More birds you integrate can be advantageous just because there's more birds to spread the pecking around to.

Here's some tips about.....
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.
Good ideas for hiding places:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[Mrs. K]

Sometimes silkies work with large birds, and sometimes they don't. It depends on all the birds involved. More silkies would probably not help. One way gates to an area where the silkies could retreat might.

 

[Chicken_Mama_13]

I have a wide assortment of girls, some of this breed, some of that, i currently have like 15 different breeds running around, hens and 6 roosters Amya Cemini, Americauna, Black Australorps, easter eggers, barnlavenders, silver lace wyandotte, a silkie, a couple of bantams, rode island reds, buff orphingtons, and Light Brahama, we have ducks too.. my flock is almost 60 birds..
My silkie is named Fay (after my sister who hates chickens) well Fay is 100% a free range bird, this year she disappeared in the nesting box and hatched 5 babies, none of them hers, she has grown up with her flock, the roosters watch over her and she goes where she wants

 

[Hairydadrock]

I have 4 hens, 8-10 weeks old. There are 2 Barred Rock, 1 Red Sexlink and 1 red production, I believe. A few weeks after we got them, I finally found some silkie chicks near me and got three. One didn't make it so now we have just the 2, 4 weeks old so no idea of sex yet.

My question: I recently read that you need more of the small breeds to integrate them with the larger ones and avoid bullying. How true is this or is it, like so many things, dependant on my particular chickens? I'd hate to need to keep them separate forever.
I would also rather not get more chicks right now (besides being really hard to find) but will do that if it is beneficial to everyone. Would any smaller breeds around the same age work to, hopefully, prevent bullying?

Picture of one of the girls from a couple of weeks ago. She was annoyed I didn't have any clover for her.

I have two silkies I've just integrated recently,did all the usual segregating etc,it was quite funny when one of the silkies tried to stand up to my queen specaldy hen!! She only did it once,knows her place now.