Choosing a Silkie rooster

[TCCL]

Hi, I hope everyone is doing fine.

I have (13) six month old Silkies. I got them as unsexed, day old chicks. About half of them are cockerels. I want to keep no more than two of the fluffy little gents for the ladies.

I’ve noticed one in particular, that at a earlier age than the others tidbits, let’s the pullets eat first, shows good nesting areas, does the one wing mating dance, watches for threats. BUT the thing with this guy is he’s a little rough on the pullets and the other cockerels -as well as challenging my partner. We had a nightmare RIR rooster last year that caused a whole lot of stress around here so we are really motivated to choose our roosters carefully.

Regarding the challenging of my partner. My partner often wears a long robe that flows just above the ground and I wondered if the flowing robe could be setting off this cockerel because he never challenged me...well, today I was crouched down in the yard with them all and a cockerel goes bouncing off of me and I’m 95% sure it was him.

I plan to clearly band each of the candidates and really watch and take note of who is doing what.

Where I stand right now is I feel that the challenging cockerel should probably go. I do wonder if I should give them a bit more time to grow up before making a final decision.

I don’t really have a specific question but I am interested in your thoughts and suggestions if you have been in a similar situation.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Mine always seemed to get worse, not better. I’d count him out. Look for one that is good to the girls and doesn’t approach you but avoids you.

The best advice I got was that roosters should not be treated as pets but as livestock. They are there but are not given attention. I had 2 that I raised from chicks that I gave as much attention as the pullets. Around hormone time they got aggressive and was attacking me. Even brought blood through blue jeans. I kept them for awhile thinking it’d pass. It didn’t.

 

[TCCL]

Look for one that is good to the girls and doesn’t approach you but avoids you.

The best advice I got was that roosters should not be treated as pets but as livestock. They are there but are not given attention.

Thanks for the advice. That ruffian will be the first to go then I can observe the others behaviours without him in the picture.

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for the advice. That ruffian will be the first to go then I can observe the others behaviours without him in the picture.

Whoa!
You've described the ideal cock for your chickens. Why would you want to kill him?
It is the flappy robe that makes the cock attack your partner. It's easy, don't wear it when dealing with the chickens.
He's young and young cockerels misbehave just like humans.
How hard on the pullets is he? Is he drawing blood, or is he just establishing himself as boss?
Of course he's hard on the other cockerels, he's trying to make sure he gets the hens.
There are things you can do about this, but given it seems at some point you plan to have just one cock (?) this problem won't be a problem any more.
I think the advice you received regarding how to treat cocks is wrong. The advice you perhaps should be looking for is how to stop his aggressive behaviour toward you if that is in fact what he's doing.
Don't crouch when a cockerel is behind you. Hens crouch when they want to mate!