donrae
Rest in Peace -2017
You're correct in that if you collect eggs in a timely manner, they won't develop. I've kept roosters with my layer flock for 20 years and never found a nasty surprise (until I was ill and couldn't collect eggs...it fell to the 13 year old and he wasn't very thorough
). But it takes an egg I think 72 hours at 100 degrees to start developing. Even in the heat of summer, if you collect daily you won't have any problems.
if your silkie is indeed a male, I'd get rid of this new red boy, depending on who you're more attached to. They may be fine now, but that may also change at the drop of a hat as the hormones change. If all you want is eggs, no reason to keep a big freeloading rooster who will serve no practical purpose. The smaller the flock, the more conscious you have to be of every bird's place, and how they're meeting your overall goals.
if your silkie is indeed a male, I'd get rid of this new red boy, depending on who you're more attached to. They may be fine now, but that may also change at the drop of a hat as the hormones change. If all you want is eggs, no reason to keep a big freeloading rooster who will serve no practical purpose. The smaller the flock, the more conscious you have to be of every bird's place, and how they're meeting your overall goals.
