Decision to make, please help

[Funnwonderland]

Hey! So I am new to this. My babes are 6 weeks old. I have 2 buff orpington ladies, 1 silkie and 1 polish. This morning my polish crowed I can't have roosters and so he will be going to live on a farm nearby where he will be happy. However, this leaves me in a dilemma. Should I replace the polish with another silkie or something? I'm worried about adding a young chick to the lot but I'm also worried about my silkie being the lone different one in a group of 3. Suggestions?

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Hi..
Sorry about your poslish being a roo..
It's good you have a plan b for him tho.
If the orpingtons and silkie get along they'll probably be fine. That said you may want to consider another silkie just so the first will have a friend to pair up with, especially when the other two roost at night. Unless the roost is low enough for the silkie to hop up on.
Good luck and hope all works out well!

 

[keesmom]

Did you get your silkie sexed from MPC? If not there's a 50/50 chance it's another cockerel. If you get another straight run bantam the same chance is there.

Orpingtons tend to be docile so if the silkie is a pullet they could very wellget along fine.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is very tricky introducing a single pullet to an established trio. Maybe you could cull two birds and replace with two? Or maybe just keep what you have for a while and see how it goes. Sometimes what is enough room when they are chicks, gets to be not enough room when they grow.

 

[kandi862]

If it is a noise issue have you thought about a no-crow collar? It's heartbreaking when they have to get separated. If you want to add to your flock, your girls tend to go broody, if your up for waiting till next spring you could have mama chick. this is the easiest way to introduce more chicks

 

[Plumfig]

We had four two-week old Orpingtons last summer and added a one-week old Bantam. The five grew up together happily. They grew up into 2 hens (both Orpingtons) and 3 roosters. We had no idea the Orpingtons would get as big as they did, and the Bantam is only a little bigger than a pigeon. It’s pretty comical, but they all get along wonderfully.

I might think to ask others who know if a tiny hen would be okay, if any of your Orpingtons ends up a rooster. If you end up with all Orpington hens though, I don’t think I would worry.

If you did add any to a group this age, it might be wisest to add 3 if you can. (I hope you don’t cull ... If you do, maybe you could find them another home too instead...)

 

[Funnwonderland]

We have a plan for the roo. He will not be culled. My county ordinance doesn't allow roosters for my size lot or I would keep him. My orpingtons are sexed. My silkie could go either way of course but at this point I'm fairly confident she's a she. Disappointed about my polish but knew it was a risk going in. I just don't want my silkie to be lonely without her buddy. It's such a hard call.

 

[lotsofloveforchickens]

If it is a noise issue have you thought about a no-crow collar? It's heartbreaking when they have to get separated. If you want to add to your flock, your girls tend to go broody, if your up for waiting till next spring you could have mama chick. this is the easiest way to introduce more chicks

may I ask what is a no crow collar? I have never heard of them.

 

[kandi862]

We have a plan for the roo. He will not be culled. My county ordinance doesn't allow roosters for my size lot or I would keep him. My orpingtons are sexed. My silkie could go either way of course but at this point I'm fairly confident she's a she. Disappointed about my polish but knew it was a risk going in. I just don't want my silkie to be lonely without her buddy. It's such a hard call.

may I ask what is a no crow collar? I have never heard of them.

A no crow collar is a loose fitting collar that keeps your rooster from being able to fill the air sac in his neck, making his crow no louder then the hens cluck.A lot of areas dont allow roosters because of noise ordinances.

This video gives demo of the collar and a comparison in volume

 

[lotsofloveforchickens]

A no crow collar is a loose fitting collar that keeps your rooster from being able to fill the air sac in his neck, making his crow no louder then the hens cluck.A lot of areas dont allow roosters because of noise ordinances.

This video gives demo of the collar and a comparison in volume

that was neat to watch that's a good idea thank you