ForTheLoveOfSilkies
Free Ranging
I have a Rooster, cockerel, 4 pullets and 1 hen all together. Question is, do I keep them together or do I move my cockerel out of this mix and into another coop I have with 2 pullets (that aren't laying yet) and a hen that is infertile (but she willingly accepts advances from a rooster).
There is no fighting that I have seen but rooster does chase cockerel away if he sees him mating.
Also, both my cockerel and rooster have been mating with the ladies in their coop so which male would the offspring come from?- doesn't the 'deposit' stay in the hen for 2 weeks after mating? Or does it get 'overridden' by the next mating?
There is plenty of room for all the chickens in any one coop so space isn't an issue.
Also, I plan to have chicks when one goes broody, likely any day now since they are Silkies, so I keep the freshest 12 eggs on standby.
Cockerel is the buff/blue 'Red Pyle' colour and is son of rooster and white hen.
Here's some pics...
There is no fighting that I have seen but rooster does chase cockerel away if he sees him mating.
Also, both my cockerel and rooster have been mating with the ladies in their coop so which male would the offspring come from?- doesn't the 'deposit' stay in the hen for 2 weeks after mating? Or does it get 'overridden' by the next mating?
There is plenty of room for all the chickens in any one coop so space isn't an issue.
Also, I plan to have chicks when one goes broody, likely any day now since they are Silkies, so I keep the freshest 12 eggs on standby.
Cockerel is the buff/blue 'Red Pyle' colour and is son of rooster and white hen.
Here's some pics...