Big roo, little hen?

[trudyg]

I have a barred rock rooster, 7 hens and plan (hope) to get silkies soon. Of course, it will take a bit for them to grow enough to put in with the big girls, but here's my question. Is he too big for the bantam silkies? If so, I'll get some male silkies as well--but would they be too small for the larger hens? I want silkies to hatch eggs, need a roo to fertilize. The roo I have now is marginal, he'll flare at me sometimes, but he doesn't frighten me. I would be willing to keep him or not, depending on how he would manage with bantam size hens. Any thoughts?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you only want to hatch silkies than only keep silkie roosters. A barred rock rooster could hurt a silkie hen. I've had big roosters breed bantams. I personally prefer it to not happen. I run bantam roosters with my standard hens and I prefer it as they aren't as rough on the hens.

 

[3KillerBs]

Do you want to hatch purebreds?

If so, you'll need to keep the two flocks separate.

 

[Shadrach]

He's too big for Bantams and Silkies.
Best practice is to keep the hens and roosters the same breed. Failing that then a rooster of similar size to the hens can work.
Some Bantam roosters won't entertain full sized hens.

 

[trudyg]

I don't care if they're pure or not, just want hens that will hatch. I guess I'll get a bantam boy along with the girls. Thanks.

 

[artbykarenehaley]

I'd keep the silkies and br roo separated, I see others have suggested the same. Aside from him being too heavy for the silkie hens, the chicks may develop too large for the small sized eggs the silkie hens lay.
Or, you could get large fowl silkies.