New(ish) Rooster doesn't explore much outside.

[dremara]

I got a 4 month old bantam silkie rooster about a month ago (so now 5 months old), he's my first roo. He seems to be adjusting pretty well, he's pretty friendly and docile if not a little shy. Him and my silkie hen get along well and come inside every night. He doesn't explore much, he just kind of stays in one spot all day unless a larger hen kind of intimidates him elsewhere. Usually he's chilling in an outside crawl space but doesn't come out from there at all during the day. If I put him down on a step he can be found on the same step for probably half an hour before he moves lol. He seems active enough in his little hidey-hole and the bantam hen stays with him there for the most part, but she will occasionally wander a bit into the greater run. She's 6 months old and I've had her since she was a chick.

He's eating and drinking fine, he crows every day. Preens, the whole nine yards. There's dust galore in his hidey-hole and its secluded so he very much enjoys the spot. He could walk just a few feet and eat some greenery but I don't think I've ever seen him (he doesn't seem interested in veggies in general) so he's pretty hungry when he comes in at night (I give him starter/grower bc it's what I have other than layer feed).

Is it mostly because he can't see above himself very well? I try to tie his crest up but he always shakes the hair tie out immediately no matter how (reasonably) tight I put it on. Is this of concern? Does anyone else have roosters that just have their spot? Is it because he's a bantam and they're pretty well suited for confined spaces? Am I overthinking this as a nervous chicken mom? (probably)

Also he sucks at jumping, absolute worst at it lol, he's a very clumsy boy. Again probably bc of his crest.

Finally, any suggestions for good ties to keep his crest out of his eyes or just regular trimming bc he refuses to wear them.

Thank you! ~Rachel

 

[Tonyroo]

To me, Silkies seem handicapped cause they have feathers covering there eyes. Regular trimming around his eyes should help.

 

[dremara]

Yeah my hen has a much smaller crest and is much more confident in her movement. I got her in an assorted bantams bin at TSC whereas the roo was bred for show. He's got quite the bouffant to show for it too haha. I found him on craigslist (re-homed bc pandemic), previous owner said he was from sweetheart silkies in florida and originally purchased for the fair circuit.

 

[Tonyroo]

Are you gonna try to breed him?

 

[kcan2]

Does anyone else have roosters that just have their spot?

Your description of your little guy made me smile! Although I'm not familiar with silkies specifically, I have a d'uccle bantam rooster that vastly prefers to be a homebody in his chicken tractor with his hen. The hen likes to range out a bit more than he does, and he will begrudgingly follow her, but neither of them go very far (both bantams). If I had to guess, I think he is happy at home and is sensible enough to know that all of his needs are met, so why go looking for trouble?

 

[dremara]

Are you gonna try to breed him?

I don't have any plans to but who knows haha.

 

[dremara]

Your description of your little guy made me smile! Although I'm not familiar with silkies specifically, I have a d'uccle bantam rooster that vastly prefers to be a homebody in his chicken tractor with his hen. The hen likes to range out a bit more than he does, and he will begrudgingly follow her, but neither of them go very far (both bantams). If I had to guess, I think he is happy at home and is sensible enough to know that all of his needs are met, so why go looking for trouble?

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a lazy roo thank you!