There's something genuinely hilarious about watching a silky rooster try to woo hens twice his size. The image of this little feathered underdog hopping onto the backs of the big gals for a few seconds at a time is pure poultry comedy gold. But behind the chuckle, there's a real question here worth clucking about: is it worth incubating those eggs? The short answer is yes, but with a side of caution. Silky roosters are notoriously determined, and that determination often translates into successful mating, even when the size difference looks like a bantam wrestling a turkey. The fact that he's jumping on and off, even briefly, means he's probably getting the job done more often than you'd think. I'd say let the hens sit on those eggs and see what hatches. You might end up with some adorable, fluffy surprises that are half silky and half something much larger.
Now, let's talk about the heartbreak and hope in this story. This rooster lost his silky hens, and now he's left with the big ladies. That's a tough break, but also a weirdly beautiful setup. He's not giving up, and honestly, that's the spirit we love in our feathered friends. If you're incubating, be prepared for chicks that might not look like either parent entirely. That's part of the fun and unpredictability of backyard farming. We've seen this before in our own little flock adventures, like with those Six fluffy chicks have hatched—egg-cellent news from our feathered friends! and the absolute joy of watching Tiny Marans Froment chicks are cluck-tastic, and currently napping!. It's that mix of nerves and excitement that makes this hobby so addictive.
If you're worried about the success rate, don't be. The bigger concern is whether the hens are actually getting fertilized, not whether the rooster is trying hard enough. The fact that you're seeing him attempt the deed means he's got the drive, and that's half the battle. I'd tell you to go ahead and mark those eggs, pop them in the incubator, and let nature do its thing. Worst case, you get some interesting mixes. Best case, you get a whole new batch of quirky, lovable characters running around your yard. And honestly, isn't that the whole point? As we've seen in our own misadventures, like in that Chickens Got Her Good! A Backyard Poultry Adventure, sometimes the chaos is the best part. So let that rooster keep doing his thing, and give those eggs a shot. You might just be surprised by what comes out. Watch for those little bantam-sized personalities in big-bird bodies.
