Peeps in Europe!

[BDutch]

Silkies do tend to be more docile than other breeds right?

Yes!

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?

I only had 2 cockerels who were very protective. I never kept my cockerels very long bc they are too loud and forbidden where I live. I didn’t know a lot about rooster behaviour back then. My advice is largely from reading advice from others. I don’t know what a rooster does with layer feed if you offer chick feed and whole grains too. .

Layer feed has too much calcium for chickens that don’t lay. Chick feed is fine for roosters and hens too. You can give oyster shell and grit on the side.
Other possibility is to give both and let your chickens choose.

I gave all 3 the last years when my old hens stoped laying a long period in winter. Layer and chick feed all day and grains limited, once in the evening.

The times I had young chicks with broodies, I didn’t supply layer feed at all, just to be sure. Chicks learn from their mama what is right to eat.

In general chickens know what they can eat/need if they have a choice. Btw, my chickens free range part of the day too. Excellent for them to find their own supplements.

Pushpa

 

[niazai_thechickenlife]

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.

I mix 5 different feeds + chili flakes + herbs + oatmeal all together and provide grit as well as ground up eggshells.

Yes!

I only had 2 cockerels who were very protective. I never kept my cockerels very long bc they are too loud and forbidden where I live. I didn’t know a lot about rooster behaviour back then. My advice is largely from reading advice from others. I don’t know what a rooster does with layer feed if you offer chick feed and whole grains too. .

Layer feed has too much calcium for chickens that don’t lay. Chick feed is fine for roosters and hens too. You can give oyster shell and grit on the side.
Other possibility is to give both and let your chickens choose.

I gave all 3 the last years when my old hens stoped laying a long period in winter. Layer and chick feed all day and grains limited, once in the evening.

The times I had young chicks with broodies, I didn’t supply layer feed at all, just to be sure. Chicks learn from their mama what is right to eat.

In general chickens know what they can eat/need if they have a choice. Btw, my chickens free range part of the day too. Excellent for them to find their own supplements.

We’ll have to see if my neighbours complain but the hens are also loud , we have a lot of neighbours with barking dogs and even one with screaming geese so i’m sure 1 rooster is not going to be a dealbreaker !

I was planning on separating mommy and babies for a few weeks just to be safe (since they free range the whole day, the babies could potentially attract predators or even our own cats could see them as prey).

Should i separate the different types of food? I know make my own mixes of a bunch of store bought food , i’m going to assume they can assess for themselves what they want/need to eat and what not?