- Apr 20, 2013
- 59
- 5
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I have a question/s. I have a flock of 18 week old hens (or so I thought until our silkie started crowing about a week ago). In my flock there are 2 silkies - one is a bantam, a leghorn, an easter egger, a cuckoo maran, a buff orpington, 2 rhode island reds and a black australorp. I'm pretty sure the rest are still hens. The black australorp, rules the roost - what she says goes. Both silkies were always at the bottom of the pecking order. I don't know if I should be concerned but my silkie rooster is now pecking at the hens. They fight back most of the time but then there are times he can latch on and take out feathers. He still gets bullied but gets into his moods. Should I be concerned? Is this how they mate - or try to? I read that you shouldn't get involved when there are "disputes" among chickens but when do you step in? He latched onto one of the RIR's by the neck and wouldn't let go - no blood drawn. I had to grab him and then put him in time out. Later I let him out and he was fine. My husband is not happy but I told him it's probably harmless behavior. I'm hoping I'm right. I see too many roosters being given away because of their behavior and I want to do everything I can to keep mine.
The odd part is I have 6 chicks ranging in age from 4-7 weeks and, when I had them in the yard together, he was the only one that was nice to them. The hens pecked at them.
What to do, what to do???
The odd part is I have 6 chicks ranging in age from 4-7 weeks and, when I had them in the yard together, he was the only one that was nice to them. The hens pecked at them.
What to do, what to do???