Introduced Silkie Rooster to flock of 23 hens

[O1CrazyLady]

Had a friend that did not want their male teenage Silkie, They had 3 pairs of bantams that he was raised with.
I have a flock of 23 hens. NO roosters. I introduced him to them at night after the hens had roosted for the night. He choose to sleep on the floor of the coop and has every night slept there.
He is usually very sweet and follows me around, eats out of my hand and lets me pick him up. However, the past few days, he nips at me, still lets me pick him up and follows me around. Why would he be nipping at me know?
Another question he paces back and forth constantly in the run. He does eat, but only after the hens have eaten.
My hens are also pecking on him. Will this stop? Will he eventually become the Man/ protector of this flock?

 

[orpington123]

It depends how long the silkie roo has been in with the other hens. It takes a while for him to settle in with the other hens and know his place in the pecking order. Are the other hens large fowl or bantams ? Since he is a teenager he might not be yet full size or mature enough to be dominant. Silkies wouldn’t be famed for there strength or dominance so he might be a bit soft for a while if let’s say your hens were game fowl. Give him a week or so and he should realise that he is the only male there and he might take on the dominant role in the flock. If not you could get a few silkie hens or you could find a new home for him if that was not possible. Best give him some time and I’d say he will come around!

 

[O1CrazyLady]

It depends how long the silkie roo has been in with the other hens. It takes a while for him to settle in with the other hens and know his place in the pecking order. Are the other hens large fowl or bantams ? Since he is a teenager he might not be yet full size or mature enough to be dominant. Silkies wouldn’t be famed for there strength or dominance so he might be a bit soft for a while if let’s say your hens were game fowl. Give him a week or so and he should realise that he is the only male there and he might take on the dominant role in the flock. If not you could get a few silkie hens or you could find a new home for him if that was not possible. Best give him some time and I’d say he will come around!

 

[O1CrazyLady]

Thank you, He is so sweet and gentle. I really would like for him to fit in.

 

[aart]

male teenage Silkie

I have a flock of 23 hens.

How old are these birds, in weeks or months?

 

[O1CrazyLady]

How old are these birds, in weeks or months?

How old are these birds, in weeks or months?

My flock of hens are 1 and 2 year old, I was told Mr. Silkie was about 5 weeks old. He looks older than that to me

 

[aart]

I was told Mr. Silkie was about 5 weeks old. He looks older than that to me

Post some pics of him?
He's just a baby, I wouldn't expect anything of him for a long time.
He's probably getting his butt kicked all over, just for being a single chick.
Stop cuddling him, no way to treat a cockerel, IMO.

 

[O1CrazyLady]

Post some pics of him?
He's just a baby, I wouldn't expect anything of him for a long time.
He's probably getting his butt kicked all over, just for being a single chick.
Stop cuddling him, no way to treat a cockerel, IMO.

Here are some pics of Mr. Silkie

 

[Duck mommy 2019]

Post some pics of him?
He's just a baby, I wouldn't expect anything of him for a long time.
He's probably getting his butt kicked all over, just for being a single chick.
Stop cuddling him, no way to treat a cockerel, IMO.

why don’t u cuddle with them? i’m interested in getting some chickens next year and have never had them. but i always hold my drakes and they will even climb onto me and sleep