will silkies an orp cross breed

[little blue]

i raise large breed orpingtons in buff, black,blue,lavender,an white my sister has showgirls an bearded silkies can we keep them in the same coop when we start hatching eggs or will they cross breed.

 

[joebryant]

Yes, they will crossbreed.
No, you cannot keep them in the same coop. An Orpington rooster will break the back of a silkie hen; plus, he'll kill the silkie rooster.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Totally agree. When there's a will, there's a way. They will breed. Roosters don't recognize a hen of a different breed as someone they should not breed. A chicken is a chicken.

I also must agree that this is not a wise decision as far as cooping is concerned. Large fowl males and bantams females never mix well. That's an accident waiting to happen, especially because males tend to be rough when they mate.