Will these breeds mix well?

[Sauerkraut]

Hello! I am currently preparing for my first batch of chicks. However, I’ve become concerned that the breeds I chose won’t work together well. I got 2 blue Andalusians, 1 splash polish, 1 “sapphire jewel” (idk, it was some specialty hatchery Egger mix) and 1 “surprise layer” (something free that Meyer does). I am also planning to get 2 black silkie pullets for show purposes. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Rose the Legbar]

Your polish and silkies may get picked on by the other chickens because they are unique looking. If you want show birds to be in good condition for show, I would keep them separated from the other girls. Sometimes funky feathered breeds can mix, other times they wont.

 

[Sauerkraut]

Your polish and silkies may get picked on by the other chickens because they are unique looking. If you want show birds to be in good condition for show, I would keep them separated from the other girls. Sometimes funky feathered breeds can mix, other times they wont.

I was worried about the silkies. I know that they can get picked on sometimes because of their docile nature. But they will be much older than the chicks rest of the chicks when they arrive (13 weeks by that point), so does that change anything? Also, do you have any recommendations on how to integrate the chicks with the silkies when they arrive?

 

[Iluveggers]

I think starting a bunch together including silkies would be easier than adding a group to an established flock later.

 

[NatJ]

I was worried about the silkies. I know that they can get picked on sometimes because of their docile nature. But they will be much older than the chicks rest of the chicks when they arrive (13 weeks by that point), so does that change anything? Also, do you have any recommendations on how to integrate the chicks with the silkies when they arrive?

For integrating: as soon as possible, set up a look-no-touch situation so they can get acquainted safely. (Adjacent pens divided by wire mesh, or a single big pen divided by wire mesh.)

If you can brood the chicks in the coop, with the silkies living there too, that might be the most convenient.

Once they have had a week or two of seeing & interacting through the mesh, try letting them be together and watch what happens. Depending on what you see, either leave them together or separate them again and ask for more advice.

If you can get them integrated at an early age, or at least living next to each other so they can see and interact, the chicks can grow up with Silkies and see them as normal, instead of seeing them as weird strangers to pick on. And the Silkies may be bigger than the other chicks at integration, which temporarily gives them the upper hand so they don't immediately become the target of bullies.

But if you want the Silkies to look nice for show, you may need to house them separately. I suggest thinking about that, and maybe ask someone with showing experience. If they do need to live separately, there would be no point in trying to integrate them.