Buff Silkie Thread!

[Debbi]

Wow that's so early!

So when you say the crowing becomes competition, that means that this might coax the other roos to come out of hiding sooner rather than later? That's what I'm hoping for, as with 15 total I would not keep more than one roo, so want to be a bit choosy about which one I keep. Noise isn't a problem where I live, and at this point the noise is more comical than annoying, it just seems like squawking for hours would wear the little guy out!

That all depends on how you are housing them. Are they all running together? If so, the dominant roo will start crowing first, and that may intimidate the lesser roos from crowing. I have two 6 month old roos living with an older roo and some hens. The older roo knows who is boss, so he doesn't feel the need to crow as often any more. The more dominant of the younger boys has all the crowing going on, and his little brother has never crowed yet, that I've seen. Now if you have them in seperate pens, then each one can feel dominant within their own boundries, and they will ALL crow! Hope that was somewhat clearer than mud??

 

[WinterLadyAK]

That all depends on how you are housing them. Are they all running together? If so, the dominant roo will start crowing first, and that may intimidate the lesser roos from crowing. I have two 6 month old roos living with an older roo and some hens. The older roo knows who is boss, so he doesn't feel the need to crow as often any more. The more dominant of the younger boys has all the crowing going on, and his little brother has never crowed yet, that I've seen. Now if you have them in seperate pens, then each one can feel dominant within their own boundries, and they will ALL crow! Hope that was somewhat clearer than mud??

Yes, that is clear! They are all housed together. And I just found out that my giant partridge rock who came sexed from McMurray is a rooster! It would seem so funny to me that the smallest little silkie crowing would intimidate this giant one, he's about 4 times the silkies size and they're the same age. Can't imagine that the silkie would be dominant!

 

[Debbi]

Yes, that is clear! They are all housed together. And I just found out that my giant partridge rock who came sexed from McMurray is a rooster! It would seem so funny to me that the smallest little silkie crowing would intimidate this giant one, he's about 4 times the silkies size and they're the same age. Can't imagine that the silkie would be dominant!

Oh, to the contrary! Silkie roos have the "Napoleon Complex"! They don't see themselves as small at all, and will challenge the biggest roo in the yard! Ask me how I know...

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote: Well, my ratty little silkie cock TERRORIZED my giant white rock cockerel until I hauled the silkie off to the feed store. Any yes, the white rock was AT LEAST 4 times the size;probably more.

 

[Debbi]

Well, my ratty little silkie cock TERRORIZED my giant white rock cockerel until I hauled the silkie off to the feed store. Any yes, the white rock was AT LEAST 4 times the size;probably more.

One of mine did too, with a cockerel that thought he was something else. I had left the gate open to the Silkie pen while cleaning out the waterers, so this day the Silkies all ran into the Marans run. Had a cocky 6 month old Marans cockerel in there that decided he didn't want them in his run. He made the mistake of pecking my little Blue roo.

Talk about opening a can of whoop-arse! That Silkie chased that big lunk, running and screaming all over the run! He got him cornered at one point, and that poor cockerel didn't know whether to poop or go blind! I swear he walked up the side of the run, and did a back flip over the top of the Silkie's head. I was laughing so hard at this point I could barely stand up, but I went over and picked up the Silkie, and put him back in his own run. That Marans boy has never looked cross eyed at any of the Silkies again! Sure wish I'd had a video of that!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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[WinterLadyAK]

Hahaha! Mine is definitely not terrorizing anyone yet, besides the kazooing he's not making much fuss at all. I think if I was going to keep one it would be the gorgeous Partridge Rock, though the scruffy bearded silkie is also beautiful, in a silly way. I'll wait and see how they interact together and with their ladies.

If the hens get used to having a rooster around, would they miss him if I decide I don't want to keep one? I think I'll be able to decide before the hens start laying, but will they always look back on those early weeks of their life with their man? I've read that if hens are raised and never know a roo, they are happy and don't know what they're missing... but if I had one and then took it away...?

 

[Debbi]

Hahaha! Mine is definitely not terrorizing anyone yet, besides the kazooing he's not making much fuss at all. I think if I was going to keep one it would be the gorgeous Partridge Rock, though the scruffy bearded silkie is also beautiful, in a silly way. I'll wait and see how they interact together and with their ladies.

If the hens get used to having a rooster around, would they miss him if I decide I don't want to keep one? I think I'll be able to decide before the hens start laying, but will they always look back on those early weeks of their life with their man? I've read that if hens are raised and never know a roo, they are happy and don't know what they're missing... but if I had one and then took it away...?

Yes, I do have some girls that do pine away for a lost man. I have several hens that are devoted to just one roo. When I seperated the Silkies by color, there was an evident love match that I had broken up, and although they could still see each other, both paced their perspective fencelines for quite awhile, just trying to get a glimpse of one another. Then there are the regular old gals, whose thinking is more along the line of; "Thank God and Greyhound He's Gone!"

Boy, if I didn't just show my age with that line!

 

[racuda]

I'm raising lots of buffs this year and one of the prettiest pullets has white skin. She is only eight weeks old but I see a lot of potential in her. Would you pair her with a dark red buff, with dark skin, or, since she is so light, keep or sell her as a pet?

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Is her skin really white or is it like a light blue??

I'm raising lots of buffs this year and one of the prettiest pullets has white skin. She is only eight weeks old but I see a lot of potential in her. Would you pair her with a dark red buff, with dark skin, or, since she is so light, keep or sell her as a pet?