Frizzled Bantam Cochin & Silkie - Boys? What to do about littles with the rest of the hens

libtex

Hatching
Jun 13, 2025
1
0
2
First time chicken keeper here. We have 6 hens from our local farm store, 4 standard/big girls (Cochin, Faverolle, Orpington, Easter Egger) and 2 littles (Bantam Cochin who ended up being frizzled, silkie) - all 5 weeks old.

I'm worried that the bantam cochin is a rooster, which could leave the silkie without a small friend. I'd think about getting more little pullets for her, but she may be a rooster too (?!?).

The two little ones won't go into the henhouse at night with the 4 others - they stay in the run, and we've been picking them up and putting them in the hen house. Last night the bantam cochin bit at me when I approached them, and the protective behavior of the silkie further makes me think it's a he? Although, it was night and it could have just been a reaction based on fear in the dark?

Any help identifying would be great, as well as thoughts about friends for the little breeds. Thank you! P.S. - They chose to hang out on the extra hardware cloth and clippings pile, this isn't reflective of where they free range normally. 🤦‍♀️
IMG_3565.HEIC.png
IMG_3562.HEIC.png
IMG_3560.HEIC.png
IMG_3556.HEIC.png
IMG_3555.HEIC.png
 
First time chicken keeper here. We have 6 hens from our local farm store, 4 standard/big girls (Cochin, Faverolle, Orpington, Easter Egger) and 2 littles (Bantam Cochin who ended up being frizzled, silkie) - all 5 weeks old.

I'm worried that the bantam cochin is a rooster, which could leave the silkie without a small friend. I'd think about getting more little pullets for her, but she may be a rooster too (?!?).

The two little ones won't go into the henhouse at night with the 4 others - they stay in the run, and we've been picking them up and putting them in the hen house. Last night the bantam cochin bit at me when I approached them, and the protective behavior of the silkie further makes me think it's a he? Although, it was night and it could have just been a reaction based on fear in the dark?

Any help identifying would be great, as well as thoughts about friends for the little breeds. Thank you! P.S. - They chose to hang out on the extra hardware cloth and clippings pile, this isn't reflective of where they free range normally. 🤦‍♀️View attachment 4147599View attachment 4147600View attachment 4147601View attachment 4147602View attachment 4147603
Yes, the bantam cochin does look to be a rooster.
 
First time chicken keeper here. We have 6 hens from our local farm store, 4 standard/big girls (Cochin, Faverolle, Orpington, Easter Egger) and 2 littles (Bantam Cochin who ended up being frizzled, silkie) - all 5 weeks old.

I'm worried that the bantam cochin is a rooster, which could leave the silkie without a small friend. I'd think about getting more little pullets for her, but she may be a rooster too (?!?).

The two little ones won't go into the henhouse at night with the 4 others - they stay in the run, and we've been picking them up and putting them in the hen house. Last night the bantam cochin bit at me when I approached them, and the protective behavior of the silkie further makes me think it's a he? Although, it was night and it could have just been a reaction based on fear in the dark?

Any help identifying would be great, as well as thoughts about friends for the little breeds. Thank you! P.S. - They chose to hang out on the extra hardware cloth and clippings pile, this isn't reflective of where they free range normally. 🤦‍♀️View attachment 4147599View attachment 4147600View attachment 4147601View attachment 4147602View attachment 4147603
Mine have fresh water daily and choose to drink from a mud hole. They have roost bars at the back of their coop/run and choose to perch on tables and shelves I was supposed to use for storage (the wood shelves will get converted to nest boxes).

I don't fight it, I go with the flow or they'll drive me bonkers.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom