Get a silkie rooster if you want a silkie rooster for personality and looks. Don't get a silkie and expect him to chase and scream at hawks. You want a standard of some sort that is comfortable free ranging as far as the hens want to go, and is larger/taller than the standard 5-6lb hawk. My silkies and silkie rooster while I had him- were home/barn bodies. My best roosters that go out and stick with their roaming hen bunches are the EE mixes. I need roosters that are good with people as well as with the hens & other roosters (we have 5 roos ranging on the same acreage), so have stayed away from the more gamier breeds. But EEs which are mixes of ameraucana and other dual purpose breeds do a decent job protecting their girls from things smaller than themselves....
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You guys are great. Thank you! These are things we have been talking about at home. The plant cover idea is great, too. We hadn't thought about guineas! I'll have to read up.
Our tentative plan: buy 8 chicks in the spring. Maybe from the feed store, or a site like my pet chicken. Brown breeds mostly. Our coop is big enough for 7 maybe. We will expand our covered area and make it more comfortable for everyday use. Free range when we are home and expect losses.
No more silkies, until we build them a separate coop
The only thing up in the air is the rooster. We adored our silkie roo's personality and his gentle nature. His size was great, too. The woman I got him from has a black rooster the same age. My flock has been exposed to her flock (I quarantined him and will a new boy). Should I get him? My girls need the leadership, I think.
So, should I get him? The 3 would be happy together for th rest of the winter. If I get a roo by accident this spring, then I'd move the silkie roo in with my proposed silkie coop!
I am shocked that folks think a dog- of course it's possible. Now fox? That's a real possibility. I guess I'll never know.
My kids are totally fine today. My older dd said that at least those hawks had a nice meal before all this snow. We've gotten over a foot so far and the "crime scene" is all gone.
Again, thanks!
