New hens

[Errin Paddywack]

Having recently lost one of my silkies I was down to one and felt very sorry for her as it was obvious she was lonely so placed an order for three new ones. I was a bit concerned that she would feel overwhelmed by them and even more so when they arrived. Only 15-16 weeks older but looked bigger than her, she is very small. I was wrong, she is now bullying one of the young ones, the gold one, and has the poor thing terrorised so she is now back on her own and very grumpy about it. I am hoping that when the others are older that it will all settle down. Original one is black and the new ones are gold, gold partridge and silver partridge. Lovely to have some colourful hens.

 

[Clodagh]

Love silkies. What beautiful girls.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Aww, they look so lovely ! But how annoying that she basically said "I like these two, but not that one!" Though when it comes to hens, I can't say that I'm surprised to hear it. Fingers crossed that things improve when the new hens gets a bit older.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Aww, they look so lovely ! But how annoying that she basically said "I like these two, but not that one!" Though when it comes to hens, I can't say that I'm surprised to hear it. Fingers crossed that things improve when the new hens gets a bit older.

I can't honestly say she likes any of them but she was particularly vile to the gold girl. She was bottom of the pecking order previously being smallest and had lived with them all her life. Really didn't expect her to be so horrible.
I got these new ones from a proper breeder so they are fully vaccinated which I doubt the others were.

 

[Clodagh]

Chickens are like children, they can spot weakness a mile off.

 

[Rumtytum]

They are so pretty Errin! But the saying ‘hen pecked’ is so true, I hope they all settle down into hen harmony given a little time.

 

[Esmae]

They are beautiful. I love my silkies. Currently have a very grumpy older lady who is broody and when she wakes up has to beat everyone up. Also have new hens so that isn't helping the cause for peace and harmony, however, they are now starting to settle down with each other.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Hope mine will do eventually. Wish they had the sense to take cover when it rains. 4 rather soggy hens tonight.

 

[Esmae]

Hope mine will do eventually. Wish they had the sense to take cover when it rains. 4 rather soggy hens tonight.

Mine hate to get wet and disappear into their covered run at the first spot of rain.

 

[Clodagh]

And silkies not being waterproof look awful in the rain! My dottes bolt for cover, but I’m not sure silkies are the brightest

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Silkies definitely not very bright. The gold one last night sat out in the rain and protested loudly when I lifted her to put her away. Woke up this morning worried that she might have pneumonia but she was fine. My sister's 2 Light Sussex are much more sensible.

 

[Nicnac]

They're very cute. I have a white silkie and a lavender millefleur. They are definitely not as bright as my rescue girls! The millefleur is currently very broody and sitting on the other's eggs as she's stopped laying whilst waiting for "her chicks" to hatch. I have to kick her out of the co-op every lunchtime and shut it so she can eat and drink.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Since mine got wet they have refused to leave their coop. My older girl has at last started laying again.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Since mine got wet they have refused to leave their coop. My older girl has at last started laying again.

I was about to write a reply saying that At least that's one thing working as it should, with your older girl having started to lay eggs again. But then I remembered having seen pictures showing Dry Silkie hen vs Wet Silkie hen, like e.g.

And thought that even if they didn't get quite that wet, they maybe felt as if they did, and then I can't really blame the young ones for temporarily being a bit skeptical about the outdoors.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

One got nearly that wet, the others were just damp. A wet silkie is a very sorry sight. They seem to have ventured out this evening so getting a bit braver.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Have observed some odd behaviour from one of the hens and I am suspecting she can't see because she has so much fluff round her face. The other two aren't anywhere near as fluffy face wise. Am I mad to think of trimming the feathers a bit? Any thoughts?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Have observed some odd behaviour from one of the hens and I am suspecting she can't see because she has so much fluff round her face. The other two aren't anywhere near as fluffy face wise. Am I mad to think of trimming the feathers a bit? Any thoughts?

I don't have hens, but it sounds to me like the only sensible place to start if you suspect she can't see properly, and she have lots of fluff around her face.

 

[Clodagh]

Have observed some odd behaviour from one of the hens and I am suspecting she can't see because she has so much fluff round her face. The other two aren't anywhere near as fluffy face wise. Am I mad to think of trimming the feathers a bit? Any thoughts?

Just make sure when they grow back the blunt cut ends don’t poke her in the eye.
Apart from that I’ve give Poland’s haircuts before. Or tied their top knot up with a band. Or slicked them back with Vaseline.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Just make sure when they grow back the blunt cut ends don’t poke her in the eye.
Apart from that I’ve give Poland’s haircuts before. Or tied their top knot up with a band. Or slicked them back with Vaseline.

Yes that is what I was worried about. I did think about using Vaseline, might try that first and see if it helps.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I contacted the breeder of my new hens and told her that one just cannot see for fluff. She suggested trimming so this morning my friend held her while I trimmed. I couldn't even find her eyes she has so much fluff but when I finally located them and started trimming the hen was really funny once she could see. She got very vocal and after we had done my friend stayed watching her for a while. She came in laughing as the hen had been looking round then suddenly di a mad run round the pen, something she just couldn't have done previously. She even pecked one of the other hens to move it out of her way. Lovely to see her so much happier.

 

[Rumtytum]

I contacted the breeder of my new hens and told her that one just cannot see for fluff. She suggested trimming so this morning my friend held her while I trimmed. I couldn't even find her eyes she has so much fluff but when I finally located them and started trimming the hen was really funny once she could see. She got very vocal and after we had done my friend stayed watching her for a while. She came in laughing as the hen had been looking round then suddenly di a mad run round the pen, something she just couldn't have done previously. She even pecked one of the other hens to move it out of her way. Lovely to see her so much happier.

Good job done! So pleased the girl has vision, must have opened a whole new world to her