Silkie rooster getting ripped to shreds. . .

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you, Leighe. You're right about not quitting. I'll update what we do. Thanks for being there.

As you can see you will get all kinds of advice, follow your gut, you are the only one who can see if if it's working. A silkie is still a chicken, he's still a rooster, and every rooster is different and every flock is different, so keep at it unless, and until you feel it's not right for you or your flock. You sound sensible enough to know the difference.

 

[TwinkleCake]

 

[aart]

Speed bump, lol! Thank you for the info on the crate.

Just a quick update on Leonard:

So my husband and I took a chance yesterday and introduced him to the lowest on the pecking order. She didn't even look at him So we felt lucky and took out another to be introduced . . . Same reaction We took another, and another! A total of four hens are okay with him today! The other dominant four are locked in the run pacing. They remind me of the two rival gangs in the music video Beat It by Michael Jackson.

Haha!!
But there you go...you did some Chicken Juggling and it worked!!
Go with your gut.

 

[TwinkleCake]

Update: Leonard's clan is growing larger! We're down to two head hens who fight him (locked in the run) the rest have accepted him and are co-free ranging during the day! He even started crowing today! Yea!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is going better than I anticipated. Go Leonard.

 

[TwinkleCake]

Well thanks to everyone's great advice! We have just one pullet to win over now. I have to keep her separate from the rest. It's the head honch, Pepper. She attacks him whenever she gets the chance.

 

[TwinkleCake]

Hey guys! I have a quick update on Leonard and a few questions. Things are going okay with his integration. The girls have accepted him to an extent and haven't attacked him anymore (apart from the pecking order stuff). They tolerate his presence, but he's certainly not apart of the group. When they free-range, he stands at a distance. I hear him trying to call them over for treats. No one listens. He's hesitant to go into the coop at night. And he's always the last to eat. If he's locked in the run with them, he paces franticly to get out. It's quite pathetic actually.

One day he was standing afar and a less dominate pullet ran across the field to hunt and scratch with him. He jumped on her back and what appeared to attack her. I'm fairly certain he wasn't trying to mate as it looked more aggressive than what I've seen with my cockerels in the past. She ran away (of course). I saw him do this again with my Barred Rock. She actually got on top of him and then chased HIM away.

My husband and I are in the process of rebuilding the run. I'm nervous about putting them together, but I don't want to loose my eggs across the hillside. Here's my questions:
1.- Do you think he will ever be at the top of the pecking order?
2.- Do roosters mount hens as a show of dominance, or is it always mating?
3.-Can Silkie roosters mate with different breeds anyways?
4.-Do you think I'm progressing with all this, or am I just wasting my time?

The run issue solves the problem of having a rooster for added protection. My children and I love him though and we don't want to give up.

Thank you so much!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Give him time. He will have to earn their respect, as well as learn to be a rooster. Your birds are all young yet, and I don't consider anyone mature until they are 2 years old.

Silkies mate like every other rooster. He may have to get creative as he's probably smaller, but I keep bantam cochin roosters with standard breeds and they figure it out.

He could be attempting to mate or dominate them. He's still a stranger. Expect it to take a couple of months before they become more cohesive of a flock. Eventually the hens should like that he's there.

 

[TwinkleCake]

Give him time. He will have to earn their respect, as well as learn to be a rooster. Your birds are all young yet, and I don't consider anyone mature until they are 2 years old.

Silkies mate like every other rooster. He may have to get creative as he's probably smaller, but I keep bantam cochin roosters with standard breeds and they figure it out.

He could be attempting to mate or dominate them. He's still a stranger. Expect it to take a couple of months before they become more cohesive of a flock. Eventually the hens should like that he's there.

Thank you so much, oldhenlikesdogs! Your advice is so sound and comforting. I'm so glad you're in this community.