debbie26pet Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 i know of a hatchery, got a rabbit in door cage so a lamp for when they born,l fancy getting some silki eggs mixed, what is the ratio usually to hens to cockerals, how easy to sex early, i would need to get rid of the cockerals how?. thinking 6 eggs, any tips advise please. how easy woul dit be to introduce to other hens i only got 4 a buff suffolk, 2 rhode reds and a white silkie (think it the bantham one.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 They usually reckon 60% are cockerels. Sexing depends on the breed - not sure about silkies but I've known people not be able to tell until they are 20 ish weeks old and start crowing! Cockerels at that age - either rehome (not easy unless from very good stock and useful for breeding) or eat them (not sure how much meat on a silkie, they are not big birds) You would have to wait until the chicks were a good size before introducing them to your existing hens - about 18 weeks old. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 If I were you I would wait until you are a bit more experienced in the hen keeping department before you attempt hatching Debbie. It seems a lovely idea, but there is more to it that at first meets the eye. The ratio of hens to cockerels is totally unpredictable, You might get all hens, all cockerels or any combination in between. Unless you get day old chicks that can be sexed upon hatching because of their feathering, it can take quite a few weeks for the differences to be apparent.....and even experts can make mistakes! This forum has a policy of not dabbling in the rehoming or despatching of unwanted cockerels, so I'm afraid you would have to find advice about that elsewhere. Spend this summer getting to know your new flock, and have a rethink another time would be my advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
debbie26pet Posted February 14, 2008 Author Share Posted February 14, 2008 yeah wouldnt be just yet i would be doing it want to enjoy the 4 i got unless i can get 1-2 ready made Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 My Poland boy didn't start crowing until he was 7 and a half months old and it was only about a month before that, that I got an inkling he wasn't a she. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 As an example, my last hatch was 8 boys and 5 girls - I am very lucky as I have 2 people who are happy to take any boys. I don't think you'd want to eat a Silkie - the meat is black Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I'll echo what the others have said - hatching is great and very rewarding, but can also go horribly wrong. Therefore, I wouldn't recommend it until you are far more experienced and have either found homes for any unwanted males, or feel able to cull and prepare them for eating. I wouldn't recommend eating silkies, as Fee has said, the meat is black and there is very little anyway. Silkies are sweet birds (not my type though), but remember that the hens will tend to be broody most of the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 14, 2008 Share Posted February 14, 2008 I don't think you'd want to eat a Silkie - the meat is black Well I never....You learn something new on this forum every day! They are not my type either Claret. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...