Silkies and welsummer rooster?

[18awesomechickens]

Okay so I'm supposed to be getting some silkies this spring and I already own a welsummer rooster. I'm wondering if the silkies will be too small for him or I should get them their own silkie roo.

 

[18awesomechickens]

I used to have silkies with EE roosters but the last silkies I had all passed away and this roo seems a lot bigger than my EEs.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

If your rooster is a gentleman, they will breed without harm and you will get Silkie hybrids.

However, Silkies are not as hardy as full size birds. They waddle rather than run. They bog down with their feathered feet. So if you have air predators or lots of rain (like I do in Oregon), Silkies are generally best in their own pen with cover. Also many layer types (Welsummer included), cannot resist pecking the head crest on the Silkie which can cause brain damage. My Welsummers tended to be more aggressive in the flock too.

Personally, I have had the best results by keeping my Silkies separate from my larger fowl.

LofMc

 

[18awesomechickens]

If your rooster is a gentleman, they will breed without harm and you will get Silkie hybrids.

However, Silkies are not as hardy as full size birds. They waddle rather than run. They bog down with their feathered feet. So if you have air predators or lots of rain (like I do in Oregon), Silkies are generally best in their own pen with cover. Also many layer types (Welsummer included), cannot resist pecking the head crest on the Silkie which can cause brain damage. My Welsummers tended to be more aggressive in the flock too.

Personally, I have had the best results by keeping my Silkies separate from my larger fowl.

LofMc

I've had some in the past but they all passed away, not of my control unfortunately. They got along with the other chickens just fine. The Easter Egger Roos we had were a lot smaller too and I don't ever recall seeing them go after the silkies. My welsummer boy seems taller but thinner than the roos too. Maybe I should get them their own roo?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Your silkie hens would be perfectly content without ANY roo. You don't need a roo to keep hens, only if you wish to breed them.

LofMc