[duckjam]

Hi all
Currently got 5 chickens. 3 are large and laying well.

The other 2 are Silkies.Both were bought as pullets, however one was around 16 weeks, the other was only 6 weeks.

I was told by the seller , if the 6 weeker turned out to be a cockerel to get in touch and he would sort something out.

I now have a dilemma in that the older one has started crowing.
I cannot really keep her/him!! due to neighbours.

What would you suggest, as I do not want to put it in the pot as they were bought as pets for my kids so killing them is not a good idea!

I have tried contacting the seller but to no avail.Could be on holiday but thought I would ask here first

Thanks

[New shoot]

I believe Silkies are not the easiest birds to sex Duckjam, so could be a genuine error by the breeder.  I would give it a few days and try and contact them again. 

If your boy is crowing at the crack of dawn, you will have to get a big cardboard box/cat box for him to sleep in and bring him indoors.  He needs ventilation, but you also need to keep him as dark as you can in the mornings so he's quiet 

[Lindeggs]

Keep trying until you get hold of the seller.  If the Silkies came with a guarantee then I hope it will be honoured - as you said maybe the seller is just away on holiday.

You could also try advertising him 'free to a good home' on this forum's 'Poultry Swap Shop'
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?board=33.0
Although unfortunately most people are in the same position and can't keep roosters.

If no luck with either of those, you will almost certainly have to have the rooster dispatched.  Depending on the age of your children you may choose to discuss this with them and deal with their understandable upset, or perhaps simply make an arrangement to send him to a new home where the new owner will deal with him in the appropriate manner.

Meanwhile it might be wise to visit your nearest neighbours and explain that you are making arrangements for him to go, so the crowing won't go on much longer.

Good luck!

[themagicaltoad1]

When one of the batch we hatched turned out to be a cockerel, (he started crowing), we were lucky enough to find someone who would take him, but not for a couple of weeks until he'd been on holiday. We apologised to the neighbours and asked them to be patient for a couple of weeks. At the end of that time they all got together and came and asked us to keep him as they liked the sound of him. It made them feel as though they were living in the country instead of a housing estate! You never know with neighbours, it might be worth asking them if they are bothered by him before you get rid of him.

[duckjam]

Just an update.

Got hold of the seller this weekend and fair play to him, he said to return cockerel to him and he would take him back.

He has several new chicks and said he will contact me when they have been sexed so I can go choose more.

He even gave me back what I paid for him!

I will be back to buy more.

[ANHBUC]

Great outcome for you and the breeder as he will get more custom if he is fair with customers.   

[duckjam]

And it gets even better.Went out this afternoon and theres a little present for me in the form of a tiny egg..