Getting 4 New Silkies (Question in post)

[KikiDeAnime]

As soon as we finish working on the pullets' new yard(netting over top & a gate), we'll be adding 4 new Silkies. I lost the last 4 I bought from the same lady but she offered some more so I'm buying 2 out of the 4 because the other 2 will have mild crossbeak so they're free.
She let me know that one of the crossbeak Silkies is a cockerel but I don't plan on breeding him since I don't want him passing down the mild crossbeak gene. He's only going to be a flock protector until we get a Crested Polish cockerel/rooster to breed the hens.

What can I do once he reaches maturity and wants to mount the hens?
Any other tips/advice you want to offer is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If you aren't hatching the eggs he can breed all he wants. Remove him about a month or so before you want to hatch after you add another rooster. Since the birds apparently aren't very well bred I wouldn't breed from any of them personally.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

If you aren't hatching the eggs he can breed all he wants. Remove him about a month or so before you want to hatch after you add another rooster. Since the birds apparently aren't very well bred I wouldn't breed from any of them personally.

The 2 crossbeak aren't going to be bred, only the other 2 Silkies will be.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry. why did you lose the last 4?

For me... skip on taking someone else's issue... crossbeak.. mild now but won't improve. And no need to have a rowdy stag who's genes aren't worthy of carrying forward.

I would find another breeder who would NOT even for free allow their issues our to the public. Hens hide nest and show up with chicks all the time.

If a hatch has 50% deformities... I won't even take the others from that hatch. Sorry I am uptight, and my time, space, energy, and money to feed free loaders is limited. I don't need hidden genes to try and find who's still passing it to the offspring.

I do process my extra boys for the table. Silkies dress out fine!

Other than keeping a stag pen, re-homing, or eating are the only suggestions I have for when your preferred rooster arrives. I would let my hens remain in peace until that day arrived instead of making them and myself go through cockerel maturing antics more than once. Older hens will teach a young rooster how to treat them.

JUST my opinion. Hope it's helpful in giving you things to consider. Good luck!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The 2 crossbeak aren't going to be bred, only the other 2 Silkies will be.

If they are related than they could pass on the cross beak, so I wouldn't hatch from them either.

Lots of recessive genes that will show up if birds get too inbred. Not sure if that's what is going on, but I personally wouldn't want to chance it.

Out of the hundreds of chickens I've had, I have only had one with the problem, which happened to be a silkie as well. So in my experiences it isn't common, so if one person has multiple birds with it I would wonder about the breeding.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

If they are related than they could pass on the cross beak, so I wouldn't hatch from them either.

Luckily they aren't related.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

Sorry. why did you lose the last 4?

1 died from an unknown illness, 1 was too small to be with the others and got sat on, the last 2 were taken by a hawk which is why the pullets' yard is being worked on.
I'm keeping the 2 mild crossbeaks as pets since I love them. I would never turn away free disabled/special need pets.

 

[BlueBaby]

1 died from an unknown illness, 1 was too small to be with the others and got sat on, the last 2 were taken by a hawk which is why the pullets' yard is being worked on.
I'm keeping the 2 mild crossbeaks as pets since I love them. I would never turn away free disabled/special need pets.

You could set up a different pen for your free disabled/special need's pet's.

 

[KikiDeAnime]

You could set up a different pen for your free disabled/special need's pet's.

If we had enough room, I would but we don't so can't do that

 

[BlueBaby]

If we had enough room, I would but we don't so can't do that

What will you do with them boy's then when you get the polish roo that you want then? You don't think that they will fight?