Cockledoodledoo!!

[jackyspratty]

Hi all, writing on behalf of my neighbour. She has 5 ex battery hens, all looking lovely and producing lovely eggs. She also got a few eggs from our nearby heritage farm and one of the goirls hatched quite a few. A few are definately lads, 3 I think, not sure what variety tho. Not sure how old they are now although all looking good and healthy. We werewondering when they will start cockledoodledooing, also whether there may be problems with having more than one cockeral?
All advice appreciated, mainly happy they are all transformed from the pitifull state they were in when they arrived into beatiful girls!And boys!
xx

[Hilary B]

Hi all, writing on behalf of my neighbour. She has 5 ex battery hens, all looking lovely and producing lovely eggs. She also got a few eggs from our nearby heritage farm and one of the goirls hatched quite a few. A few are definately lads, 3 I think, not sure what variety tho. Not sure how old they are now although all looking good and healthy. We werewondering when they will start cockledoodledooing, also whether there may be problems with having more than one cockeral?
All advice appreciated, mainly happy they are all transformed from the pitifull state they were in when they arrived into beatiful girls!And boys!
xx

For the most part cockerels which have known each other from hatching don't get serious about fighting (although there are always exceptions, and they DO 'spar'). What having several WILL mean is that they crow more, trying to out-do each other.....
Crowing CAN start from a few weeks, although 3-4 months is more usual (there will be some pretty pathetic attempts for a while before they get the hang of it).

[Nicos]

My two lads are bothers ( aged 1 1/2 now)- and the dominant one tolerates the other male- but does put him in his place from time to time.
We've had 7 young lads from our own eggs, and ours started crowing at about 16 weeks I think...gosh- I've almost forgotten already!!!

[its hilly]

Ive probably got too many cockerals for the number of hens, but they mostly get on well. And they are softies But like Nicos mine have mostly been brought up together, and are used to me handling them. The additional ones have come with their own hens (pairs)..and more than one pair added at a time, but youngsters. They do have their own pecking order top of which is the bantam Orpington, size doesn't matter to chooks.
Think the ones I hatched myself started crowing around 4 months.

[jackyspratty]

Thanks!

Willcheck with avril how old the guuys are, but haven't heard a peep yet. My boys are looking forward to it! My neighbour doeesn't have nternet conection so I may become a regilar browser to this on her behalf! Thanks for the advice and nice to meet you all.
Kind regards
Donna

[its hilly]

Careful Donna..chooks are addictive, you'll end up catching the bug too

[jackyspratty]

I know! Love the sound of the girls over the fence, really reaxing and hearing them natter on is a joy! Been brilliant watching them change from malnourished sad battery specimens into really plump happy girls! Avril clearly loves them! Think the cockerals were hatched mid august sometime so won;t be long before we hear there crows! Have said to Avril that I'llpost any questions etc on her behalf and that theres a graet community here