Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

Hi guys! Hello from our flock in Belgium!

Welcome!
Please tell us a bit more about your flock. Pictures?

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

Welcome!
Please tell us a bit more about your flock. Pictures?

There’s currently 4 silkie hens in our flock. Called Jalebi, Mango, Challo and Wednesday.

We’re looking for a rooster and possibly 1 or 2 more girls. Should be picking them up on Friday .
These fluffballs really make my day .

 

[BDutch]

There’s currently 4 silkie hens in our flock. Called Jalebi, Mango, Challo and Wednesday.
View attachment 4228285
We’re looking for a rooster and possibly 1 or 2 more girls. Should be picking them up on Friday .
These fluffballs really make my day .

Do you quarantine the new boy and girls? Or do you trust the current owner to sell healthy chickens ?

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

Do you quarantine the new boy and girls? Or do you trust the current owner to sell healthy chickens ?

Definitely will be quarantining them! The setup is ready in our kitchen that’s one of the reasons why i don’t just want to bring home a rooster by himself. Plus, so that he stand stronger against the pecking order of the already solid flock.

 

[BDutch]

Definitely will be quarantining them! The setup is ready in our kitchen that’s one of the reasons why i don’t just want to bring home a rooster by himself. Plus, so that he stand stronger against the pecking order of the already solid flock.

You don’t need to worry about the rooster if he is a proper adult. Its mainly the new hens that might have trouble to fit in. If the rooster does a good job, he will make sure they don’t fight/peck too much.

Do you know the age of the rooster?

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

You don’t need to worry about the rooster if he is a proper adult. Its mainly the new hens that might have trouble to fit in. If the rooster does a good job, he will make sure they don’t fight/peck too much.

Do you know the age of the rooster?

He's the same age as my current hens , born in March 2025. The new hens are also around the same age, I think based on what i saw.

 

[BDutch]

He's the same age as my current hens , born in March 2025. The new hens are also around the same age, I think based on what i saw.

The English use different words for chickens under 1 year old. In fact you get a cockerel and pullets. Not a rooster and hens.

A cockerel often behaves like a teenage boy. Some cockerels are not yet into caring and try to mate so much that the hens try to get away or get damaged. Do monitor how things go and protect the pullets if needed.
If he takes his job to protect and care seriously. You should know that he possibly sees you as an intruder who tries to steel his ladies. It is his task to give treats to the pullets/hens.

General advice from Shadrach, a man with lots of rooster wisdom : give the food to the cockerel. Your cockerel will be the head master who hopefully loves to give the food to his pullets. Some don’t accept if you come between him and his hens and get aggressive towards their owner. I recommend to read his article about rooster behaviour.
And be careful with children.

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

The English use different words for chickens under 1 year old. In fact you get a cockerel and pullets. Not a rooster and hens.

A cockerel often behaves like a teenage boy. Some cockerels are not yet into caring and try to mate so much that the hens try to get away or get damaged. Do monitor how things go and protect the pullets if needed.
If he takes his job to protect and care seriously. You should know that he possibly sees you as an intruder who tries to steel his ladies. It is his task to give treats to the pullets/hens.

General advice from Shadrach, a man with lots of rooster wisdom : give the food to the cockerel. Your cockerel will be the head master who hopefully loves to give the food to his pullets. Some don’t accept if you come between him and his hens and get aggressive towards their owner. I recommend to read his article about rooster behaviour.
And be careful with children.

I have asked about his behaviour and apparently he's really sweet and good with children. The hatchery he's coming from has a lot of chickens and they grow up around children. Roosters (or cockerels) that are aggressive are let go.

But thank you for telling me, I'll definitely keep a watchful eye on him. He's still tiny so he can try and attack me but he won't stand a chance lolll.
We'll see how he does inside with his 2 pullets before introducing him to the rest.
Silkies do tend to be more docile than other breeds right? Or so i've heard.

What I read was that roosters shouldn't eat layer feed as it's not good for them? I was already struggling with how I would find a way to make him eat different food but you're saying it's best to serve him and let him distribute to the hens? So he can have layerfood?
His name will be Pushpa btw. Totally fits him. He's gorgeous.

I'll look up more info about silkie rooster behaviour.
Thank you for the helpful tips.
I'm glad I found this forum.
@BDutch

 

[chickengr]

There’s currently 4 silkie hens in our flock. Called Jalebi, Mango, Challo and Wednesday.
View attachment 4228285
We’re looking for a rooster and possibly 1 or 2 more girls. Should be picking them up on Friday .
These fluffballs really make my day .

welcome! your silkies are adorable!

 

[chickengr]

I have asked about his behaviour and apparently he's really sweet and good with children. The hatchery he's coming from has a lot of chickens and they grow up around children. Roosters (or cockerels) that are aggressive are let go.

But thank you for telling me, I'll definitely keep a watchful eye on him. He's still tiny so he can try and attack me but he won't stand a chance lolll.
We'll see how he does inside with his 2 pullets before introducing him to the rest.
Silkies do tend to be more docile than other breeds right? Or so i've heard.

What I read was that roosters shouldn't eat layer feed as it's not good for them? I was already struggling with how I would find a way to make him eat different food but you're saying it's best to serve him and let him distribute to the hens? So he can have layerfood?
His name will be Pushpa btw. Totally fits him. He's gorgeous.

I'll look up more info about silkie rooster behaviour.
Thank you for the helpful tips.
I'm glad I found this forum.
@BDutch

silkies are calm birds. they need more time to grow than the other breeds so you should be ok with them. I always give my chickens corn and wheat besides the layer's feed so the roosters can choose what to eat. they usually pick more grains. hens prefer layer's feed.