Would you keep this Cockerel?

[CheshireDing]

We have 6 birds in total (including the cockerel). We got 2 Silkies and were told they were both hens (about 12 weeks old at the time), now one has started crowing and he clearly looks different around his beak to the other Silkie.

Would you ask the farm to swap him for a hen ? (I know the farmer will do this but am worried about integrating 1 single hen as the other girls are big, sturdy and a bit vicious to newbies).

Or would you keep him and let him fertilise 1 egg (although obviously I could end up with another Cockerel and as there are different breeds in there it wouldn't necessarily be a Silkie).

Sorry I hope it's not a really silly question

I don't think a flock of six should have two cockerels, not enough hens to go around IYKWIM.... I think there would be fights so I'd be inclined to swap him for another hen.

The same thing happened to us - we kept him and he's a proper character. He's protects his ladies although the ex battery hens definitely rule the roost! We don't want any chicks but they all seem happy enough and it's reduced the amount of bickering.

There is a chicken keepers board !
Mumsnet never ceases to amaze with its broad spectrum of topics
And no sarcasm intended

Definitely swop.

Exactly the same thing happened to us but we couldn't swop him. We ended up with such s lot of chickens. It was fun to see the chicks hatching etc nd we did have the space but in the end, we found someone who would take him as I couldn't stand the constant shagging, It was not nice to see!
I'm not a prude, it was just the fact I don't think the chicken has much say in the matter

If you haven't got neighbours I'd be inclined to keep him. They are useful at looking after the hens. If at maturity he shows signs of becoming a viscous bastard to people (it does happen depending on their level of hormone) then definitely send him back! I've had to do this recently for the first time ever after the latest cockerel attacked a family member drawing blood!

Oooh thank you all for your replies !

I thought you would all say I was mad and that of course we can't keep him

We do live in a residential area but it's just a farmers field behind and the neighbours either side are very chilled out and have chickens too.

DH said he needs swapping, I'm still on the fence

You could swap him, silkies are notoriously difficult to sex.
If you wanted to keep him, if you make sure the coop is as dark as possible it should help to keep early morning crowing down.
We find that keeping a cockerel can keep the pecking order fights a bit more civilised and there's less bullying from stronger hens.