what now????????????

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chickendipper

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Hello all
Im in a bit of a dilema!!!! Bought 3 silkie hens between christmas and new year just gone aged 16/17 weeks, from a repuatable supplier to add to my existing stock of two hybrids and a bantam. One of the silkies has as of yesterday started crowing!!!Yes its a cock.. The 3 silkies are really close and dont wanna split them up.Can i keep the cock with the other 5 hens without probs!!! Not to bothered about the eggs will just dispose of them!!Will this just cause me a big problem??Dont wanna seperate the cock and keep it on its own and dont really want it disposed off!!What should i do?
 
Unless you have a problem with the noise (or close neighbours who would have a problem) I don't really understand why you think you can't keep him with your hens. Why would you have to dispose of the eggs, can't you just eat them?
 
So long as you remove the eggs promptly you can still eat fertilised eggs - and as long as you don't mind eating fertilised eggs then there's no problem... ;)
 
Pick all eggs up on a daily basis and there's no problem. The eggs will very eatable ! As long as they can survive as a group without any fighting or bullying, you will have a nice little flock. He will learn to mate with all the hens in time. The biggest problem with Silkies is that they tend to lay a few eggs and then go broody when they will want to hatch the eggs. When this happens, you will either need to take her off broody or find a place where she can sit on some eggs and hatch them.
 
90% of our eggs are fertilised and they store and eat just the same. Little chap will be fine with the hens, its just the noise issue as has been mentioned.
 
Thank you all for your helpfull advice and commments much appreciated!!!
So basically as far as the eggs go as long as they are removed daily and not incubated they are no different in eating terms than unfertilised eggs??
Last question....From the point of lay how long do eggs actually have as a best before time ??
Thanks again
 
You really won't know the difference, and the whole point of having your own chickens is that you always eat the eggs really fresh. Shop eggs can be up to 2 weeks old before you even buy them, and so long as they're stored properly are not harmful to eat for a week or so after that, though when you crack them in the pan you see the yolk has flattened and the white begins to spread outwards, not like a lovely firm new egg. I really noticed the difference when I had to buy some eggs this winter when my girls stopped laying much in December, and these were nice eggs from an organic supplier, but not as good as my girls produce.

From my experience of Silkies, lovely as they are, the problem is getting them to lay the eggs in the first place, or at least to prevent them from sitiing - and sitting - and sitting.... Getting to collect the eggs promptly in the morning is a very good idea, and may help - a bit.....
 
Just a point about the eggs. If you sell them on for resale they need to be date stamped 28 days or a month after laying (can't remember which), so that's how old they could be when you buy them. The vitamins start to break down after 3 days and they won't hatch much after 9 so that gives you an idea of how fresh you should eat them to get the best out of them. My advice is don't buy shop eggs more than 3 days old which, because of the time taken for distribution probably rules them all out !
 
chickendipper said:
Well thats why im asking as unsure!!!!!!!!!!??
Wont he fertalise the eggs??
Click to expand...

Keep your hair on chickendipper!!!! Don't you think everyone who has a cock with their hens has fertilised eggs then! Not everyone wants to hatch ALL their eggs ALL the time.
 
they dont start to become any living thing till add the right heat (incubator or broody) so all will be fine, normally the rooster will sort out the squabbling in the pack. enjoy
 
Hi

Theres nothing better than having a cockerel. I used to live in a built up area and could never have one, but now we live out in the country and all my neighbours have cockerels also. I went to buy 10 Hybrid POL hens and asked the man if i could also buy a cockerel. He asked me "Why? Did I want to incubate some of the eggs?" and i told him that I had always wanted my own cockerel, as I just love the sound they make when they crow. :D

If you are not in a really built up area, I would keep him. He will keep your hen happy and stop any squabbling. It wont make any difference to the taste or look of your eggs.

Don't worry xxxx
 
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