Silkies

[Ruby roost]

It’s wired because the 4 of them have just started having staring contests with each other and puffing their feathers out, is this a cockerel trait? They don’t peck or hurt each other rather just see who can stare the longest and whose feathers puff out the biggest, lol! I’m so new to raising chickens, so I don’t know if this is normal or should I be concerned and separate them?

 

[Ruby roost]

All cockerels.

Thank you!

 

[The Happster]

Sparring is normal. If you aren't planning on getting rid of them, keeping all four together in a separate pen WITHOUT any girls will work.
Keep girls out of sight.

You don't need to worry about play fighting unless it gets too rough.

 

[Ruby roost]

Sparring is normal. If you aren't planning on getting rid of them, keeping all four together in a separate pen WITHOUT any girls will work.
Keep girls out of sight.

You don't need to worry about play fighting unless it gets too rough.

Thank you!

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Silkies aren't supposed to have single combs, so it could be a recessive trait showing through but you have it on so many I think whoever you got them from may have been breeding for it OR selling their non-showable ones : ) they could be mixes, but they have enough silkie in them to have the skin color, earlove, and feather texture so in my personal opinion it's silkie enough for me unless you plan to show them

 

[Ruby roost]

Silkies aren't supposed to have single combs, so it could be a recessive trait showing through but you have it on so many I think whoever you got them from may have been breeding for it OR selling their non-showable ones : ) they could be mixes, but they have enough silkie in them to have the skin color, earlove, and feather texture so in my personal opinion it's silkie enough for me unless you plan to show them

Thank you for the info We don’t plan to show them, they are our pets, there such sweet birds, they definitely don’t have the stereotypical mean rooster attitude, I hope they always stay this way

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Thank you for the info We don’t plan to show them, they are our pets, there such sweet birds, they definitely don’t have the stereotypical mean rooster attitude, I hope they always stay this way

I find young roosters to be especially sweet, it may change as they're older especially depending on the amount or lack of ladies they're with

 

[AllenK RGV]

It’s wired because the 4 of them have just started having staring contests with each other and puffing their feathers out, is this a cockerel trait? They don’t peck or hurt each other rather just see who can stare the longest and whose feathers puff out the biggest, lol! I’m so new to raising chickens, so I don’t know if this is normal or should I be concerned and separate them?

Usually they will flare their hackle feathers as they face off. Streamers on the back of the head are a good early indication, plus faster weight development. None of my mixed bred hens have noticeable wattles but most have a bit of comb. Mine aren't pure bred as their skeletons never appear black either. All of my cockerels though have the wattles. We see very little in the way of rooster aggression with our silkie mutts only one has had to go for that. Not that I find an aggressive silkie cockerel threatening I just didn't enjoy that one. I personally want to phase out my silkie flock but not cull them out but they are unstoppable finding new places to brood.

Just to give you an idea on silkie math I hatched out 17-April 2019. One had to be culled for severe wry neck, three were taken by a neighbor dog. One unexplainable death and one rooster had a bad attitude. I should have only 11 now, but I have 7 silkie surprise chicks, and 4 more that survived hawkageddon over winter. No additions were ever planned. So 22-23 depending how you count them.

 

[Ruby roost]

Usually they will flare their hackle feathers as they face off. Streamers on the back of the head are a good early indication, plus faster weight development. None of my mixed bred hens have noticeable wattles but most have a bit of comb. Mine aren't pure bred as their skeletons never appear black either. All of my cockerels though have the wattles. We see very little in the way of rooster aggression with our silkie mutts only one has had to go for that. Not that I find an aggressive silkie cockerel threatening I just didn't enjoy that one. I personally want to phase out my silkie flock but not cull them out but they are unstoppable finding new places to brood.

Just to give you an idea on silkie math I hatched out 17-April 2019. One had to be culled for severe wry neck, three were taken by a neighbor dog. One unexplainable death and one rooster had a bad attitude. I should have only 11 now, but I have 7 silkie surprise chicks, and 4 more that survived hawkageddon over winter. No additions were ever planned. So 22-23 depending how you count them.

Thanks for the info! Chicken math is how we got the silkies, we only intended to start with a small flock to have some fresh eggs but then you get to the store and they are just so darn cute and before you know it your going to the store everyday to see if they have any new breeds of chicks...I started with 2 RIR, 2 BO and 4 assorted bantams and then got the 6 silkies, I thought a chicken was a chicken, I didn’t know there are so many cool breeds! It’s fun to watch them grow!