Roo or pullet?

[mwells6chicks]

100% Cockerel. Silky /Mix maybe.

 

[mwells6chicks]

That's what I was thinking with that head tuft. Definitely a mix.

 

[Gray Farms]

Crossbred cockerel. My first thought was a Silkie cross as well.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Aren't there some places that are breeding LF (larger anyway) "silkies" instead of the traditional bantams?

 

[mwells6chicks]

OK so now I have 2 Cockerel and 9 pullets. 5 are 5 months old (just got my 1st egg today), and 4 6 week old chicks. With 2 roos I'm thinking I'll need more hens.

 

[Gray Farms]

Aren't there some places that are breeding LF (larger anyway) "silkies" instead of the traditional bantams?

I'm not sure that they are breeding LF Silkies but rather not trying to conform to the standard at all. Either way I've seen some huge Silkies in the last 4-5 years.

 

[coach723]

OK so now I have 2 Cockerel and 9 pullets. 5 are 5 months old (just got my 1st egg today), and 4 6 week old chicks. With 2 roos I'm thinking I'll need more hens.

Usually the recommendation is 10 -12 hens per roo, that is just a recommendation and you need to go by the behavior in your flock. I usually have about 2 dozen birds and 2 are roo's that tolerate each other pretty well. But the personalities and temperaments of the roo's in question can change the math. There are flocks that have a lower ratio and sometimes higher. I would start with the higher # personally to avoid your hens getting beat up by over mating. You may need to separate out both roo's until you have enough adult hens for them, the chicks are not ready yet. I'd keep the roo's together as trying to integrate them again if separated could be problematic.

 

[mwells6chicks]

Usually the recommendation is 10 -12 hens per roo, that is just a recommendation and you need to go by the behavior in your flock. I usually have about 2 dozen birds and 2 are roo's that tolerate each other pretty well. But the personalities and temperaments of the roo's in question can change the math. There are flocks that have a lower ratio and sometimes higher. I would start with the higher # personally to avoid your hens getting beat up by over mating. You may need to separate out both roo's until you have enough adult hens for them, the chicks are not ready yet. I'd keep the roo's together as trying to integrate them again if separated could be problematic.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Looks like a mixed breed cockerel with probably some brahma from parents or grandparents

 

[mwells6chicks]

I have 2 coops, one for the older flock and one with the 4 younger chicks. I usually integrate them when the chicks are 3-4 months old. They will all fit into the one coop by spring, unless the two roosters change behavior. Then I will separate them. I'll probably get some new chicks come spring to boost up numbers.