silkies and other chooks

[Ma Noob]

I currently have 6 hens and a rooster. All almost 12 months old. Ive found that i can get silkie chicks from the next town for $10 each, which is a great price for silkies around here. So i would love to get 1 or 2 or 3 (probably 3 LOL). But they must only be young as they still need to be under lights, which means their sex probably isnt able to be told. if i do end up with a rooster, is it going to be an issue between a silkie and a regular roosters? will i be able to house them together? Or am i better off keeping them separate?

cheers for any help. they do look darn cute, i would love to hatch some bubby ones

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
IMO I keep my bantams separate from my larger fowl. Some do keep them together, I don't. Maybe someone that does can come answer any questions you have.

 

[Ma Noob]

i'd planned on keeping them separate until they were bigger as my roo is quite a big bird, and slowly introduce them, im more concerned that if i end up with a silkie rooster it may cause problems with the other roo.

i do have a large bird cage where if there are issues i can put them in there and they have their own little house but i would prefer they end up all together, when big enough. best case they are all girls but when you cant sex them id say fair chance im going to end up with a boy in there.

 

[ChickyChickyBaby]

Quote:
It could cause an issue. Roosters will fight for dominance. I just have never done it personally, because I did not want a 6-8lb rooster beating up on my 3lb silkie rooster, especially considering how the crest blocks their vision, they may not see the other rooster coming at them.

I do have a couple of silkie hens in my layer pen, BUT that only has a bantam cochin roo right now.

 

[Ma Noob]

Cheers for that. I have a large bird cage that hasnt been used since our cocky passed, and would be more than big enough for 3 silkies to live in. Think i might just house them in there instead.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Lil'ChickFarm]

I have silky babies coming too, but I don't plan to keep a male. Two of my hens are just 10 weeks old , but they are EE/RiR mixes and will be bigger. The other two are wyandot bantams. I am hoping that my silkies will end up fitting in with them when they are 6-8 weeks old. Of course my EE/Rir girls will be almost four months by then.
So far the EE/Rir girls and the wyandots are getting along great, but at first it was Queenie, the mixed girl who was bossing the place. Now they all snuggle together on the roost. They are so cute.