What should I do if I find out some of my silkies chicks are cockerals?

[RabbitsQuailsSilkies]

I have never had chickens before and I've recently purchased 5 silkie bantams. I would guess they are about 2 weeks old from looking at pictures. We were going to originally get four but if we had then there would only be one left behind. So sad so we just got all five. I was wondering what I should do in the future when I find out some are indeed cockerals. Right now they are in a smallish coop but later this week I'm planning to let them out in the blocked off portion of my yard under supervision for now.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC. I guess if you intend to breed then you keep them (or at least one)

More generally, this is a useful link of BYC guides to take a look at announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3 I’d suggest including your location using the guide in the link. You can use this link to contact members in your area - Find your State's thread.

Best wishes

Pork Pie

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!!

If you have more than you want you can always try and sell them or give them away.

Feel free to check out the links below for some interesting reading. Good luck to you!​

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!
If you end up with unwanted cockerels, you can rehome them or sell them on Craig’s list. If you have any local farmers, they may be interested as well.

 

[PirateGirl]

Are you allowed to have roosters where you live? If you have one cockerel in a flock of 5, you hopefully will do just fine. Were they purchased "straight run" which means mixed males and females, or "pullets" which would be females only (barring any mistakes in sexing)? It's definitely good to plan ahead. Maybe give craigslist a browse in the farm and garden section... I sometimes come across ads from people who will either take in unwanted animals/poultry to add to their farms or will take unwanted cockerels and processes them for dinner. It's understandable if you do not want eat your own cockerels, but it's worth considering allowing someone else to do so, and feel better knowing that he had the best life he could up until that point. You could also look for a farm/animal/poultry swap in your region and try bringing any you can't keep to sell there.

 

[PirateGirl]

Oh, and there is a buy/sell/trade section on BYC! (and you may have a local poultry facebook group that can help you)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/chickens-8-weeks-older.35/

 

[fldiver97]

Welcome

 

[BlueBaby]

Hello, and welcome! Glad that you joined! Good luck in having more girl's than boy's with those silkies.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
I take it you are not permitted roosters where you live? Otherwise, keep your favorite cockerel for the flock and rehome the others. Good luck.

 

[N F C]

The other greeters have given you several options in case you get unwanted cockerels so I'll just say hello and it's nice to have you here!