My Dysfunctional Family...

[bobbi-j]

They all seem to get along fine. I do see a little segregation among the 2 breeds of hens, but I assumed that was normal or just a difference in the way they act such as the Araucanas perch, but the silkies huddle....things like that. We have grown attached to the roosters and really don't want to let them go, but we do want to see some eggs soon and right now we are not sure when that will be lol. Thanks again for everyone helping bring all sorts of knowledge to the table. This really helps guys!

And that's the kicker. They'll start laying when they're good and ready. Chickens don't like change, and any little change can throw them off laying. Shorter hours of daylight doesn't help. If the roosters aren't constantly harassing, chasing and trying to breed the hens, they're not holding up the egg laying progress. If that is happening, though, it could slow them down. Your hens are stressed when that happens, and they don't lay well when stressed. You're the only one who can decide what to do. I will say, though, that two roosters for 8 hens can be a bit much. Just watch your hens for signs of stress.

 

[TheGoogleFarmer]

Thanks Bobbi J. So let me ask this.... We have the 2 roosters because one is a Silkie and the other is whatever it is....lol....but I figure the silkies needed a Silkie rooster....I'm wrong arent I?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If you intend to breed more Silkies, then you'll need the Silkie rooster
Something else to consider (if you're trying to figure out which to get rid of, if you're even considering that) is that there will be a significant size difference between your Silkie hens and the standard sized rooster. He could injure them while trying to mate or working out pecking order issues. If I had to choose (assuming you want to keep the Silkie hens), I'd keep the Silkie rooster, though I am a little partial to them.

My Silkies roost, if you can call it that. They use a large tree branch that's about a foot off the ground. They didn't always like to use it, so I'd sit them on it every night when I closed the coop. They eventually got the message and start hopping up there on their own. They used to have a coop with a ramp, actually ramps (it was 5 feet off the ground). They tried to make a huddle puddle in the run when they first moved into it, so again, I'd pick them up and place them in the coop. After a couple of weeks, they started using it on their own. If yours have large crests, that may be the reason they aren't able to use the ramp in the evening. Mine like to wait until the edge of dark to go to bed, and I'd imagine less light makes it difficult for crested birds to see. A hair cut may help them, though I suspect the newness of the ramp and your coop in general is why they're struggling.

I LOVE my Silkies, they're my favorite breed hands down. And, I think I enjoy my roosters more than my hens. They're funny funny little characters (I have 3 roosters in my Silkie coop- 2 Silkies and a Sizzle) and always greet me happily when I enter their run. Early, my black rooster, offers me the choice treats when I give them scraps, its hilarious. Mine don't charge me when my back is turned, in fact, my 8 year old daughter carries them around like they're her babies. They'll gather around our feet and wait to be picked up. She's even been caught with one of them in her room, having a tea party (though now, after cleaning up his mess, she understands why chickens can't come inside for a spot of tea).
They can sometimes be a little more difficult to acclimate to new surroundings than other breeds, but I don't really consider them special needs. I treat them the same as my other "normal" breeds, aside from the occasional crest trim every now and then.

Good luck with yours

 

[TheGoogleFarmer]

Yay! We finally have eggs.... Not very many, but I think there may be one or two hens laying now. Maybe things is looking up for the ole' flock. Lol. Anyways thank you guys very much for your ideas and advice throughout this journey. I know this is only the beginning though lol

 

[Muttpuppy]

Congrats on the eggs!!!!