We have 16 Silver Laced Wyandottes (2 are roosters), 4 barred rocks (1 is a rooster), and 2 EE's (1 is a rooster). And 2 silkies. The barred rocks and EE's are 13 weeks, SLW's are 12 weeks, and the silkies are 9 weeks.
All of them but the silkies have lived together since they were 4 and 5 weeks old, but the silkies were only 1 week old and they seemed so tiny, so we kept them separated. Then we put them in a metal dog crate in the coop so the chickens could get used to them and let them out occasionally, only to collect them back up because the other chickens were kicking their butts. We gave them more time in the crate in the coop. Finally 2 days ago, I was done and just opened the door to the crate. They made it through the night and they were out in the run yesterday with the rest of the chickens, but clearly ostracized. When I tossed out some scratch if the silkies tried to eat it, the other chickens attacked them.
Last night I went to close the chickens up and they were all inside except the silkies who were clearly not allowed in past the SLW guard at the door. I had a talk with the chickens and the dominant rooster (the EE) came out and cleared a path and led the silkies inside and put them in their cage! I checked back at midnight and they were in the cage with the barred rock rooster guarding the opening. This morning I went to open them up for the day and the silkies were still in the cage. Now they are all back in the run but the silkies in their corner and the rest of the chickens roaming free.
So what do you think? Are the silkies always going to be their little slaves? Are they going to starve them? Will their eventually be peace?
Thanks!
All of them but the silkies have lived together since they were 4 and 5 weeks old, but the silkies were only 1 week old and they seemed so tiny, so we kept them separated. Then we put them in a metal dog crate in the coop so the chickens could get used to them and let them out occasionally, only to collect them back up because the other chickens were kicking their butts. We gave them more time in the crate in the coop. Finally 2 days ago, I was done and just opened the door to the crate. They made it through the night and they were out in the run yesterday with the rest of the chickens, but clearly ostracized. When I tossed out some scratch if the silkies tried to eat it, the other chickens attacked them.
Last night I went to close the chickens up and they were all inside except the silkies who were clearly not allowed in past the SLW guard at the door. I had a talk with the chickens and the dominant rooster (the EE) came out and cleared a path and led the silkies inside and put them in their cage! I checked back at midnight and they were in the cage with the barred rock rooster guarding the opening. This morning I went to open them up for the day and the silkies were still in the cage. Now they are all back in the run but the silkies in their corner and the rest of the chickens roaming free.
So what do you think? Are the silkies always going to be their little slaves? Are they going to starve them? Will their eventually be peace?
Thanks!
