[nuzuki]

I have a bantam, silkie cockerel who keeps attempting to mate with my newly laying hen. Do you think he could be successful? I wondered whether to hatch the eggs she's just laid.

Thanks

[frenchliving]

I have a bantam cockerel and after losing his pal had to scrounge a hen from a local farmer, she said it was a bantam but oh my she isn't!! He manages and they have produced fertile eggs! I will try and bump picture for size difference!

[frenchliving]

I always copy wrong link, so hopefully this one will work! the two in the middle manage fine!

[ANHBUC]

It would not be advisable to hatch the eggs if your hens are only just coming in to lay.  I believe that you should wait for the hens to be around 12 months old. 

[nuzuki]

Thanks for the replies. I know I shouldnt hatch the eggs till she is older but just thought i'd ask to see if it was possible. Shes still on a mixture of growers and layers pellets so I wont eat the eggs just yet. Unfortunately she shares a coop with some younger chicks who still need the growers pellets.

[ANHBUC]

As your hens mature they will get even bigger so it might be difficult but not impossible.  The breeder I got some bantams off mixes large fowl and small bantams to get the size bird he wants.