Cockerel advice please

[Snadger]

Its so muddy in the runs just now, you can tell which ones have been covered as they have mud on there backs!

[Nicos]

Its so muddy in the runs just now, you can tell which ones have been covered as they have mud on there backs!

tut tut- your lot been doing a bit of mud wrestling???
( this is a family forum Snadge!!)

[RichmondHens]

Snadge - do your cocks try it on with each other, in the absence of hens in their run? My lot are all really horny since the thaw set in, and the ones set aside for fattening are all leaping on each other. Lots of mad running around and squawking each morning. Yesterday one of the free ranging cocks decided to try and get at the bantams in their enclosure, and got attacked by one of the studs in the run. Unfortunately the stud got caught up in the fence and when I went on my afternoon rounds I found him dangling upside down in the netting, well and truly beaten up, covered in blood. He has recovered a bit overnight though and although looking awful, seems better today.

Gonna have to start eating more chicken!

[MaureenHall]

You knew I'd vote Yes, didn't you? I love having a cockerel in with my girls and the neighbours seem quite happy too because although Jerry crows, his crow isn't as ear-piercing as some (yet!) All the flock are in together apart from the 10 youngest of Basil's offspring. Jerry will grow to around 13lbs and at 6 - 7 months he must already be about 7lbs if not more. He does seem to have his favourites but so far (touch wood) he's been quite gentle, being so much bigger than all the others, he doesn't need to push the girls down so hard (I think ). The plan for him is that once I've reduced the number of growing birds and re-homed some of the others, he'll go into a separate run with Shellingtons Splash Orpington girls and the Bluebelles, that'll give him 7. Well, that's the plan in my head anyway

[HayleyB]

Snadger I love that Sussex, the Favs colours are lovely too.

Sounds like you're having him then G4, I'd give him your posh girls to play with separately.

[minskey]

I had a beautiful Buff Wyandotte Banty Cockeral which I hatched from my eggs. At the time I had 18 hens and him, he was lovely at first but turned into a right so and so, not with me but with the other hens, he was always very aggressive with them, pulling out tail and wing feathers and dragging them around by the combs,and they towered over him. I would not have another, they seem much calmer and relaxed without him and I'd rather buy pulletts instead of breeding my own and risking more cockerals

[Snadger]

tut tut- your lot been doing a bit of mud wrestling???
( this is a family forum Snadge!!)

Chooks mud wrestling doesn't somehow have the same appeal as human chicks doing it. Can't imagine why???????

[MaureenHall]

Right!!!! Everyone on the Norty Step move up a bit for Snadger!! You bad lad Snadge

[dexterdoglancashire]

Chooks mud wrestling doesn't somehow have the same appeal as human chicks doing it. Can't imagine why???????

are you thinking wot Im thinking?

[RedThorn]

Never takes long for a thread to totally degenerate ... lol

[its hilly]

You're just feeling smug RT, cos someone else got sent to the norty step before you

Actually being sensible I was going to ask G4 if he's a specific breed or a x of some kind.

[RedThorn]

Dang Straight!

He's a Black Rock...supposedly

[di]

Back to cocks....I think you're going to get one anyway,so not really worth me giving my two pennies worth!

Just thought I may have the ideal solution to if you work out that you need more than one.......BOO!!!!He's grown into such a cute looking little chappie and although we've toughened up and accepted that boys are for the pot....well it just wouldn't be right eating one that was kept warm by my own bosom!

We've got four,possibly five boys in the one run at the moment(number five is a Buff Orpington and we're still not sure).It's,at present,such a happy little run.The Bitchy girls have been put in their places and it's so rare to see any aggression....even Roo get's to eat with the rest of them.
I know it's possibly only a matter of time before they don't all get on,but then they'll be big enough for dinner.
I will add though that I don't enjoy being in there as much as I used to...although none of them have ever attacked us,I'm always watching my back and the Cream Legbar chappie always seems to be watching my back tooBeing winter the kiddies haven't been coming to the lottie as much,but I certainly wouldn't be happy to let them go in with them.

....if you do decide on getting more than one give me a shout.I'll try to get apic of the handsome chappie to make it so you can't say no!

[mr darcy]

Do you have neighbours? If so, find out if they will object to early morning alarm calls!! Or you can do what I do and put my cockerels in a box at night and let them out at a "civilised" time in the morning.
Also, he may become aggressive towards you in which case keeping hens becomes a nightmare instead of a joy. And, if you have small children think very carefully, a fully-grown rooster can injure a small child!

having just experienced this i'd stear well clear

[di]

Dang Straight!

He's a Black Rock...supposedly

Just how perfect would a Black Rock and Norfolk Grey/Maran cross look together?