We want to bring our silkie roos-2 of them-back into the silkie pen, but both mamas have young. The chicks are about 1 1/2 months old and both hens are laying again. Will the roos hurt the chicks? We integrated the two silkie hens and their chicks with no problem a week ago and are worried that one of the hens is getting ready to set again (and here we are with no fertile silkie eggs!!!). It is a fairly large pen, with an area the chicks can get into but not the adult chickens. So, what do ya'll think? Can it be done without losing chicks? Thanks for any advice. Mina
Some Roos won't bother chicks at all, others, well--keep them separate. Just depends on your individual birds. Since you have an area the chicks can get to safely, can it be made into their exclusive area until they are 4 or 5 months old? Roosters can be very rough with little pullets, and if you have baby cockerels, they, too, may be a target for the Roos--but maybe not--some flocks integrate with little fuss. You will just have to WATCH THEM closely, so no one gets hurt or worse. Good luck CJR
By Cjeanr on Tuesday, May 22, 2001 - 02:10 am: