Stick with me, I'm writing a book here.
I have a mixed, standard flock of 36. Some of the boys, depending on their personalites, may have to go when they mature. I have one 2 1/2 yr. old rooster, 18 hens from 1 to 5 yrs., 5 pullets around 6 mo., 1 cockrel around 3 mo., 5 chicks (one cockrel and 3 females for sure and one undetermined) about 10 to 11 wks, 6 chicks at 3 weeks of age.
My flock consists of langshan, orpington, cuckoo marans, wyandottes, one RIR, one Sussex, brahmas, easter eggers, olive eggers, and just plain backyard mixes from the above breeds. (More than half the flock was hatched and raised here by broodies. ) The flock as a whole, is pretty good natured and generally get along well. They don't even harrass the doves or squirrel that hang around in their pastures. I've never had any integration issues.
Occasionally I have a couple of hens that have a spat but I've never had any injuries. My rooster (who is BIG) is in a seperate coop and run with 11 hens and though they all mix during the day, he and his hens have a seperate pasture as well. He is a sweet pet but doesn't care for other roosters. He will occasionally chase the cockrels. He is slow and lazy though, so he cannot catch them or just doesn't bother to do so.
I have ample room to add more chickens. They have secure runs but I do give them access to an uncovered pasture during the day. They have plenty of bushes and ground cover, as well as space under a travel trailer and deck but we do see hawks in the fall and spring.
Our summers are very humid and in the 90s, we have a few days over 100f every summer. Our winters are mild with just a few light freezes. We often have rainy days in the late springs and fall.
I have placed an order with Ideal for 10 assorted pullets and will be picking them up next month. I've decided to add 2 naked necks to my order because their unusual good(?) looks have grown on me. (Thanks a lot @igorsMistress
)
Suddenly, I crave a couple of (3 or maybe 4) silkies. I don't care if I get a male or two. I would like a female though, for brooding. I'm not too concerned with quality (they are hatchery birds after all).
I'm not even sure why I want them. They are just conversation pieces for the yard, right?
FINALLY, my question:
Is this a bad idea? I know others mix them with standard chickens but not too many follow up on their posts. If it is a bad idea, I'll give it up or I'll wait until spring, buy eggs and let my head hen raise them. My biggest concern is the rooster and cockrels. I don't think my hens will care about them one way or another.
Any opinions?
I have a mixed, standard flock of 36. Some of the boys, depending on their personalites, may have to go when they mature. I have one 2 1/2 yr. old rooster, 18 hens from 1 to 5 yrs., 5 pullets around 6 mo., 1 cockrel around 3 mo., 5 chicks (one cockrel and 3 females for sure and one undetermined) about 10 to 11 wks, 6 chicks at 3 weeks of age.
My flock consists of langshan, orpington, cuckoo marans, wyandottes, one RIR, one Sussex, brahmas, easter eggers, olive eggers, and just plain backyard mixes from the above breeds. (More than half the flock was hatched and raised here by broodies. ) The flock as a whole, is pretty good natured and generally get along well. They don't even harrass the doves or squirrel that hang around in their pastures. I've never had any integration issues.
Occasionally I have a couple of hens that have a spat but I've never had any injuries. My rooster (who is BIG) is in a seperate coop and run with 11 hens and though they all mix during the day, he and his hens have a seperate pasture as well. He is a sweet pet but doesn't care for other roosters. He will occasionally chase the cockrels. He is slow and lazy though, so he cannot catch them or just doesn't bother to do so.
I have ample room to add more chickens. They have secure runs but I do give them access to an uncovered pasture during the day. They have plenty of bushes and ground cover, as well as space under a travel trailer and deck but we do see hawks in the fall and spring.
Our summers are very humid and in the 90s, we have a few days over 100f every summer. Our winters are mild with just a few light freezes. We often have rainy days in the late springs and fall.
I have placed an order with Ideal for 10 assorted pullets and will be picking them up next month. I've decided to add 2 naked necks to my order because their unusual good(?) looks have grown on me. (Thanks a lot @igorsMistress
)Suddenly, I crave a couple of (3 or maybe 4) silkies. I don't care if I get a male or two. I would like a female though, for brooding. I'm not too concerned with quality (they are hatchery birds after all).
I'm not even sure why I want them. They are just conversation pieces for the yard, right?
FINALLY, my question:
Is this a bad idea? I know others mix them with standard chickens but not too many follow up on their posts. If it is a bad idea, I'll give it up or I'll wait until spring, buy eggs and let my head hen raise them. My biggest concern is the rooster and cockrels. I don't think my hens will care about them one way or another.
Any opinions?
