Will Silkies be okay with the rest of my flock?

[chicksgalore]

First of all, I am getting ready to order some silkies and since I can't order a hen specifically (I have to order SR), do you think 4 is enough to get me at least 1 hen?

Next, I have 20 mature large-breed birds right now and am raising 19 chicks with more on the way. They're in a pretty large outdoor fenced in area and are let out to free range in the afternoon. I always keep my chicks separate of course until they're "of size" to introduce them to the rest. However, with the silkies being smaller, will they be able to find their place in the group okay?

 

[lurky]

Do you have a standard size rooster? If so, i would think that might be tough on the silkies. I am sure some people do it, but i doubt the silkies appreciate it. I keep mine seperate.

 

[bangor777]

I bought silkies when my standards were 8 weeks old. When the silkies were 6 weeks old I put them in the coop within view of the big girls. After 2 weeks I integrated the flock. There was the usual occasional peck the first day, since then the two groups have lived harmoniously.

The only thing I've noticed is that the two groups have segregated themselves (lol). The big girls are a 'flock' and the silkies are a 'flock'. I bought 8 straight run and ended up with 5 hens, 4 roos.

I am just starting my flock this year, so...there's been a lot of introductions done. I started with 6 chicks, added 5 more when the chicks were 7 weeks, added the silkies a few weeks later, and I'm still acquiring chickens (have eggs in the bator and brought home a few from chickenstock. knock wood, I have never had any trouble integrating, but then again, that's what my flock is used to. I don't know if it's different with an older established flock. hope this helps!

 

[chicksgalore]

I've introduced a lot to my flock in the past and they've all seemed to do fine after time. There are definitely the more prominent groups--the older the group, the more dominance (or seniority) they have. However, I've found that as long as they have a lot of space to spread out and move around, they do well.

Yes, I do have some new roosters in the batches of chicks I'm raising now and they will be standard size. Maybe hopefully they'll stick with the bigger girls?