month old silkies, newly hatched barred rocks?

[Duckduckgoosie]

Not sure how seriously I’m considering this plan but could you see brooding 4 week old silkie chicks with much younger barred rocks? Two of each, so 4 chicks total. I’m wondering if such an arrangement might actually help a pair of silkies have a smoother time eventually joining our current flock of six barnyard mix girls and our one rooster. We’d like the potential new four to be socialized as lap chickens if possible.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'd just brood them all together at the same age than they will bond as a flock. You do run the risk of the silkies being bullied, but sometimes it can work out. Silkies in general can act more odd, so it sometimes attracts unwanted attention.

Depending on the breeding silkies can be hardy or fragile. Those that can see will do better than those with large crests.

I've always preferred to keep my bantams separately, but it can work out if there's plenty of room, and places for birds to get away. The smaller the set up the harder it is to mix sometimes.