Trying to integrate silkie into silkie flock

[KatiewithZena]

Hello,
I was given a hen by a friend, that had been attacked by her dog. I sprayed her wound with antiseptic spray that was pink. That was almost 2 months ago and her underside is still pink.
In my existing flock I have 1 silkie rooster, and 2 silkie hens, and now with the pink one, makes 3 hens, 1 rooster.
The other 2 hens chase her and peck her, not constantly but enough to make her run and hide, they haven't drawn any blood yet but I just want them to be a happy Flock of 4. She doesn't follow them up into the coop at night, (she's only done that a handful of times) so every night I have to go out and put her in with the others so she's safe from predetors. It's getting old. The first week after she was healed up I had her in a small cage by herself for a week, down the side of the house in their run where their coop is so they could get used to her but not hurt her. Then when I took her out for supervised integration it went OK, a bit of pecking and bullying but it just hasn't ever stopped, she's always by herself and the other 3 are always hanging out together. The rooster and the black hen are partners, they're so cute together, they follow each other everywhere, and the grey painted one follows like a bit of a third wheel. So what I'm thinking of trying now is to take the grey 3rd wheel and put her in a fenced area with the pink one (who is also naturally grey painted) and leave them together in the run area right near the other 2. So they will always be in view/contact, but hopefully it will force the 2 of them to become buddies, even if the pink one stays at the bottom of the pecking order. Then after a week of being cooped up together, the pink one will hopefully follow the others up into the coop together?! Does that sound like a good plan or a terrible idea? Will it stress the chicken out that's used to being with her other hen and rooster??

 

[Mrs. K]

No, I think you might be picking the wrong bird. The third wheel is the lowest pecking order, and she and they generally are quite determined not to let this one in the bunch. But the idea of putting two together is a good idea.

So either the top hen or the rooster, there is apt to be a dust up, but it is generally one on one. But I would switch it around, I would lock the others out of the set up, and put the pink girl and one other bird IN the set up, The new bird does not feel comfortable in that coop or run.

In fact, you might put everyone on in the yard, locking them out and leaving the pink girl all by herself in the coop and run. Feed along the fence. You need that bird to spend some time in the set up without being harassed, so that she gains some confidence and becomes homed to this coop.

Let the others back in as close to dark as you dare. Maybe even putting pink in there first. Rinse repeat, after 2-3 days of this, leave one bird in with her in the morning. Again there might be a dust up, but watch with a high powered squirt gun, giving a squirt if things get rough, but not physically separating them if you can.

When that settles down, then add the others.

Mrs K

 

[KatiewithZena]

No, I think you might be picking the wrong bird. The third wheel is the lowest pecking order, and she and they generally are quite determined not to let this one in the bunch. But the idea of putting two together is a good idea.

So either the top hen or the rooster, there is apt to be a dust up, but it is generally one on one. But I would switch it around, I would lock the others out of the set up, and put the pink girl and one other bird IN the set up, The new bird does not feel comfortable in that coop or run.

In fact, you might put everyone on in the yard, locking them out and leaving the pink girl all by herself in the coop and run. Feed along the fence. You need that bird to spend some time in the set up without being harassed, so that she gains some confidence and becomes homed to this coop.

Let the others back in as close to dark as you dare. Maybe even putting pink in there first. Rinse repeat, after 2-3 days of this, leave one bird in with her in the morning. Again there might be a dust up, but watch with a high powered squirt gun, giving a squirt if things get rough, but not physically separating them if you can.

When that settles down, then add the others.

Mrs K

OK great thankyou for your advice. I will lock up all 3, and let pinkie have the run all to herself for a couple days (letting the 3 out at dusk so they can go up into the coop to sleep, once pinkie is up there) then after a few days I will let the black top hen out with pinkie, leaving the rooster and 3rd wheel locked up together and see how we go! Fingers crossed!

 

[tef6774]

Hello,
I was given a hen by a friend, that had been attacked by her dog. I sprayed her wound with antiseptic spray that was pink. That was almost 2 months ago and her underside is still pink.
In my existing flock I have 1 silkie rooster, and 2 silkie hens, and now with the pink one, makes 3 hens, 1 rooster.
The other 2 hens chase her and peck her, not constantly but enough to make her run and hide, they haven't drawn any blood yet but I just want them to be a happy Flock of 4. She doesn't follow them up into the coop at night, (she's only done that a handful of times) so every night I have to go out and put her in with the others so she's safe from predetors. It's getting old. The first week after she was healed up I had her in a small cage by herself for a week, down the side of the house in their run where their coop is so they could get used to her but not hurt her. Then when I took her out for supervised integration it went OK, a bit of pecking and bullying but it just hasn't ever stopped, she's always by herself and the other 3 are always hanging out together. The rooster and the black hen are partners, they're so cute together, they follow each other everywhere, and the grey painted one follows like a bit of a third wheel. So what I'm thinking of trying now is to take the grey 3rd wheel and put her in a fenced area with the pink one (who is also naturally grey painted) and leave them together in the run area right near the other 2. So they will always be in view/contact, but hopefully it will force the 2 of them to become buddies, even if the pink one stays at the bottom of the pecking order. Then after a week of being cooped up together, the pink one will hopefully follow the others up into the coop together?! Does that sound like a good plan or a terrible idea? Will it stress the chicken out that's used to being with her other hen and rooster??

I can't offer much advice, but I am going through the same thing with a non-silkie. Almost exactly what you are describing. So I understand your pain. It's difficult not to feel bad. I like the advice you received from Mrs. K and will be doing the same. Ours came with some flock mates who she gets along with so I will let her share the run with them. I have a coop with a smaller enclosed run that the original flock can utilize.

 

[KatiewithZena]

I can't offer much advice, but I am going through the same thing with a non-silkie. Almost exactly what you are describing. So I understand your pain. It's difficult not to feel bad. I like the advice you received from Mrs. K and will be doing the same. Ours came with some flock mates who she gets along with so I will let her share the run with them. I have a coop with a smaller enclosed run that the original flock can utilize.

Good luck, I hope that you have some success. It's slow going here for me, she's still a loner chicken in the backyard during the day, except for the occasional preening sesh nearby the others, and she sleeps inside every night because she still won't go into the coop with the others that has the automatic door on it. So she's basically a spoilt indoor chicken that wayyyyy prefers to follow humans around than the other chickens... But she's healthy and seems happy, so it's just the way things are at my house now.