Re: Will a large cockerel cause any problems with smaller chickens?

Milli wrote:
I've got a flock of about 35 hens/roosters...various breeds...the only
roosters I had problems with were bantam silkies....I just got rid of
them this week...I had them for about a year...they were cute and I
actually enjoyed watching them go at each other from time to time but
they were too aggressive....I got tired of them going after the hens
and me and my children so I finally got rid of them this week and
heard great cheers from the family.

This really illustrates how generalisations can never be made from the
particular experience. <smile>
So many folks would say that Silkies are probably among the soppiest breeds
of them all. They are SO popular as pretty pampered pets.
Similarly with the Orpingtons who have the reputation of being docile and
placid. However I have heard horror stories about big aggressive Orps taking
lumps out of folks.

It also illustrates the rule of never breeding from an aggressive male -- It
is only creating this sort of problem.

The best is to keep the number of males down to a sensible ratio -- 1 male
to 10 - 15 girls is ample for a domestic flock, breeding annual replacers or
a few table birds.

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk



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