They can breed with any other chicken in the flock provided the size difference is not to great. It is sometimes desirable to cross a silkie male with a flock of other broody bantams like Light Sussex or Barnevelder to produce a cross breed that is still a good broody and mother.

Can a silkie rooster fertilize other chickens?

A: Yes, in most cases you can mix breeds of chicken in your flock. They generally get on very well. ... Interestingly, in our experience, Silkies usually get on well with other chicken breeds, despite their unusual plumage, presuming you have several (and not just one lone "different" bird).

What age do silkie roosters mate?

Roosters must be sexually mature in order to fertilize an egg. This is usually achieved at five to six months of age.

How many hens can you get from a silkie rooster?

One rooster per 3-4 hens is a good ratio. Often silkie roosters get along with each other fairly well, so it's not too much of a hardship, and their slightly lower fertility rates are offset with an extra rooster or two.

Are silkie roosters mean to hens?

Male silkies are friendly, but will protect their hens from a predator. Silkies are excellent pets, but some of them can be a little bit more aggressive than other chickens. ... Although these chickens are usually more docile than other breeds, they can still hurt you if they're too aggressive.

Silkie Chickens | The Difference Between Silkie Hens and Roosters

20 related questions found

Can two Silkie roosters live together?

That said, most backyard chicken breeds do fine in flocks with multiple roosters. Favorite breeds for roosters (and multiple roosters) include Salmon Faverolles, Plymouth Rocks, Marans, Orpingtons, Australorps, Silkies and Brahmas.

Do silkie roosters crow?

All Silkie roosters are capable of crowing at about 4 to 5 months old, but not all will. Silkies as young as 2 months old have been known to crow, while others have not begun crowing until nearly a year old. Unlike other breeds of chicken, Silkies are less likely to crow if you have other mature roosters on-site.

Should I separate my rooster from my hens?

Keep roosters separate from your hens:

A word of caution though, if you do try to place them back in the chicken yard where there is already a rooster or two, there may be some serious fighting and injuries. They will see the new guy(s) as a threat to their hens and won't want them interfering.

Can you brush silkie chickens?

Check the chickens regularly for parasites and lice.

Once a week, brush through the silkies' feathers. Look for any small, black or red moving dots in their skin or feathers. If you notice any mites, take your silkie to the vet.

At what age can you tell the gender of a silkie chicken?

Most experts believe that by the time the silkie is 8 or 9 months old, the characteristics that set the males and females apart should be distinguishable.

How many hens do you need for a rooster?

The answer to how many hens per rooster is; generally, experts suggest one rooster for every seven to ten hens. But this number may also depend on the chicken breed your flock has. For a big flock, you can see 2, 3, 4, or more roosters often present without causing any issues. Yet this is too risky for smaller flocks.

How much are silkie chickens worth?

Silkie chickens range in price from $20 to $130. Younger birds will cost less and many people decide to purchase Silkie eggs to minimize the cost.

How long are silkie roosters fertile?

Starting at about 4 to 5 months of age, young roosters (cockerels) reach sexual maturity, producing sperm and acting like roosters. They can remain fertile for several years, although the quantity and quality of sperm that roosters produce decreases as they age.

Is it OK to breed sibling chickens?

Can you breed brother and sister chickens? ... Chickens are a little more tolerant of inbreeding than many species. You can safely mate brother and sister chickens for at least a few generations.

What is the nicest breed of chicken?

Top 12 Most Beautiful Chicken Breeds

• Silkie Bantam Chicken.
• Gold Laced Wyandotte.
• Modern Game Bantam.
• Frizzle Chicken.
• Barbu d'Uccle Chicken.
• Faverolles Chicken.
• Sebright Chicken.
• Phoenix Chicken.

Can chickens and roosters live together?

With a rooster around your flock, your hens will live happily and they will lay fertile eggs. Roosters are also good pets. ... Generally roosters become more aggressive than your laying hens. And he may try to escape from the coop if he find anything outside the coop that is trying to harm, disturb or steal his hens.

Are hens happier with a rooster?

Chickens, even those who have been living together for years, will sometimes squabble or pick on those lower in the pecking order. What is this? Having a rooster around does seem to keep peace within the flock. Also, in the absence of a rooster, one hen will often assume the dominant role and become a bit of a bully.

Do roosters sleep with the hens?

They are being social with their hens. Roosters may choose to mate with hens inside the nesting box or go into the nesting box for company. A rooster spending a significant amount of time alone in a nesting box may be ill and should be taken to the veterinarian.

Are Silkie roosters docile?

Silkie roosters are more docile and better natured than some other breeds. The boys make good pets and will look after their ladies well. They are happy go lucky additions to the backyard flock.

Are Silkie roosters nice?

Their temperament and silkies are known to be calm, friendly, and docile – even the boys. It has been recorded by several people that the roosters will 'tidbit for the chicks! This docility can lead to them being picked on by other more 'pushy' flock members.

How do you get a blue silkie chicken?

To breed for blue Silkies you need to breed a black or a splash to a blue or a blue to a blue. Black x black = 100% black. Black x blue = 50% blue 50% black. Black x splash = 100% blue.

Do all silkie roosters have combs?

Silkie roosters will have long hackle feathers which are rough in texture. 4: Comb - In females, the comb comes in a more delicate “V” shape, where the male has a wider “U” shape. Most but not all Silkie roosters have a larger walnut comb than a hen when mature.

Can you eat a silkie rooster?

Can you keep Silkie chickens for meat? The Silkie is not everyone's idea of a dual purpose bird but they are a delicacy in the Orient. The skin and meat is black which is why you rarely see them for sale as food, it freaks some people out. They can be eaten and the meat tastes a little stronger than normal chicken.

Are silkie roosters noisy?

Although silkie rooster's crow loudly, they sound adorable and not at all as noisy as other species. ... Silkies' crowing habits are the same as other species. They mostly do it at sunrise, but some of them do it more often throughout the day.