silkie-friendly chicken breeds?

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thanai

thanai

Songster
Jul 3, 2020
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Canada
Just wondering if there are any breeds which tend to clash with/pick on silkies. Slightly expanding my flock this spring and looking to avoid breeds that don't do well with silkies. Also, are there any (non broody) breeds that DO get along well with silkies?
 
Speaking from my silkie, the bigger breeds in general. She was at the bottom of the pecking order when I had an all-hen setup out there. She was picked on, but generally did well enough to get food, water and a place to sleep.

When we got our rooster, our silkie had to be removed because everything got substantially worse. Young rooster who is uncoordinated coupled with the fact that he is quite a bit larger than her lead to some injuries and the other girls would pick even more on her.

Others will likely have other experiences and I might just have an overly timid silkie on my hands, but after this experience, I would generally suggest keeping like-sized birds together.
 
Battlepants said:
Speaking from my silkie, the bigger breeds in general. She was at the bottom of the pecking order when I had an all-hen setup out there. She was picked on, but generally did well enough to get food, water and a place to sleep.

When we got our rooster, our silkie had to be removed because everything got substantially worse. Young rooster who is uncoordinated coupled with the fact that he is quite a bit larger than her lead to some injuries and the other girls would pick even more on her.

Others will likely have other experiences and I might just have an overly timid silkie on my hands, but after this experience, I would generally suggest keeping like-sized birds together.
Click to expand...
ah, makes sense. Thank you for the info!
 
I keep different breeds with Silkies, & mine don't have much of a problem. Silkies can be pretty feisty, depending on the type you get. Hatchery Silkies tend to be less friendly, while the ones bred for showing are more friendly, & less likely to defend themselves against the other breeds.

I keep both types, I've bred Show type to hatchery type, & got less friendly fluffballs, which are doing better.
 
MysteryChicken said:
I keep different breeds with Silkies, & mine don't have much of a problem. Silkies can be pretty feisty, depending on the type you get. Hatchery Silkies tend to be less friendly, while the ones bred for showing are more friendly, & less likely to defend themselves against the other breeds.

I keep both types, I've bred Show type to hatchery type, & got less friendly fluffballs, which are doing better.
Click to expand...
ah, that's really interesting. good to know, thank you!
 
BTS said:
ah, that's really interesting. good to know, thank you!
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

Breeds I keep with Silkies:

Bantams:

OEGBs

Porcelain D'uccles

Mille Fleur D'uccles

Mixed Breeds

Largefowl:

Brahmas

Malays

Mixes

Easter Eggers

Black Sumatras

CrackerFowl

Extras:
Bourbon Red Turkey

Guineas
 
My separated coop is silkies and polish. They get along great (at least in my experience). I have two Roos in there, one Silkie named Candy and one Polish named James Dean
 

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