Groovychook Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Please excuse my ignorance but I don't know much about the pro's & con's of having a cockerel in your flock. I am wondering if introducing one would help with my pecky chicken problems... I'm still having to keep Hilda separated during the daytime as the bumpa bits I sent off for a week ago, haven't arrived as yet- that they will come today!! The crowing wouldn't be an issue as we live in the countryside and our neighbours, being farmers wouldn't object. They suggested that we should get one when we first got the chooks... I wondered though, if it would mean that the girls would be going broody all the time? Thanks in advance for any advise! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 Hi - I have 2 cockerels. A large fowl one & a bantam one. The bantam one is adorable & rounds his girls up well, not letting them wander out of the back garden. The large cockerel, loves his ladies - but is far too amorous. He doesn't give them a moments peace & it looks quite horrid how he grabs them. He is also over protective & charges at us, stamps his feet & growls. He is spoiling our fun with the ladies as we are wary of him, when our back is turned. He is soon to go to a new home. If I were you, I'd try a bantam cockerel, as if he is naughty with you - at least he is little & you wouldn't be scared of him! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BERTIE MCSQUIRTY Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 i have a pure frizzle bantam cock surplus to requirements - but i suspect i am too far away from you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 My Spongebob is a pure red frizzle cockerel & I love him to bits, wish I could say the same for Bumble. Spongebob is hopefully going to be a dad soon, as I have eggs in the incy. Why won't my pekins go broody? I can't recommend frizzle cockerels enough, their crow isn't an annoying one either, but quite high pitched. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 7, 2008 Author Share Posted November 7, 2008 i have a pure frizzle bantam cock surplus to requirements - but i suspect i am too far away from you! Just a tad too far - but thanks for the offer!! If I were you, I'd try a bantam cockerel, as if he is naughty with you - at least he is little & you wouldn't be scared of him! !! I hadn't even considered that I might be scared of him! Spongebob sounds gorgeous by the way... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 oooer frizzle cockrels sound so cute. Anybody got any piccis please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 this was Spongebob when I first had him! He now has a larger comb! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HENthusiastic Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 He's so funny! Id have never known he was a he He looks like a comedy rooster No offence meant Mr Spongebob! I think you're fab! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 He's gorgeous - my daughter says he looks like he's had an electric shock! Loluise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happybunny Posted November 7, 2008 Share Posted November 7, 2008 I have 3 Pekin bantam cockerels and I adore them. they are so considerate of the hens and will wait outside whilst they lay! Pros: very entertaining and friendly protect the hens and keep order chicks Cons: noise (if that bothers you) we've had to put a post box on our gate because the 'head boy' had cornered and attacked the postman! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 Pros: very entertaining and friendly protect the hens and keep order chicks Do you think it would help to stop my Hilda from pecking the other girls? It's probably a stupid question but would it make the girls go broody if there was a cockerel with them? I'm worried that I might solve one problem & start another!! I do like the idea of having a little bantam Cockerel... Maybe it's just an excuse to go chook shopping again!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I am sure that he will keep them in check Groovychook. He will be top of the pecking order and won't stand for any nonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaronmusgrove123 Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 if i were you i wouldnt i have a silkie cockerel and i hate him he chases my dogs around the garden and pecks them, he then pecks the little hens all the time and she hide's under the grub so i think i will et rid of him he is just dominant then when he crows he is gone hehehehee Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pink Ladies Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I wouldn't if I were you because they make LOADS off noise and you might get complaints from your neighbours!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 when i first got my girls at 8 weeks we soon realised that 2 were infact boys! Pecky had to go in september as he was just to vicious and noisy, he is living on a farm now and the lady who now owns him says he shouts alot but now knows his place. Alfred has just started crowing at 6months old, it sounds more like a football chant at the moment. Today i caught him playing piggy back with Smeegal which im not too keen on, we havent got the space for anymore chucks and with only the one hen laying atm i dont really want her going broody! (if it makes them broody, im not sure) He looks after the girls i guess, the littlest one 'bunny' he seems to peck alot for no reason. Strut who we got with the 2 boys stands her ground with him, some times starting a stand off with him for no reason. Strut pecks the other hens anyways just to keep them in check, alfred doesnt stop this from happening. I really dont wish to send Alfred to a new home as we have watched him grow, but he is rather noisy for our street and as im not planning on rearing chicks (the thought is nice tho) i dont see any benifits in keeping him.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I wouldn't be without a bantam cockerel now. He guards the garden & protects the little ladies so well. There is no pecking order, he is the boss. There is no pecking order with my other girls, with having big Bumble the cockerel, but he is aggresive with us. I can handle a bantam flapping his wings at me & doing his warning dance. I like his noise its high pitched, with a sore throat urrr at the end! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happybunny Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 I don't think that a cock would stop a really determine bullying hen. I've never had just hens so I don't know how much they normally get broody - my Pekins get broody at the drop of a hat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted November 9, 2008 Author Share Posted November 9, 2008 He looks after the girls i guess, the littlest one 'bunny' he seems to peck alot for no reason. Strut who we got with the 2 boys stands her ground with him, some times starting a stand off with him for no reason. Strut pecks the other hens anyways just to keep them in check, alfred doesnt stop this from happening. Hi Dinkychick, been wondering how you were getting on with Alfred... I don't know what to do - I was just wishfully thinking that a cockerel might teach our naughty Hilda some manners! If the long awaited bumpa bit doesn't work, (& I wouldn't put it past Hilda to find a way of pecking with it on!) then we might get a bantam cockerel... I wouldn't be without a bantam cockerel now. He guards the garden & protects the little ladies so well. There is no pecking order, he is the boss. There is no pecking order with my other girls, with having big Bumble the cockerel, but he is aggresive with us.I can handle a bantam flapping his wings at me & doing his warning dance. I like his noise its high pitched, with a sore throat urrr at the end! Emma.x Emma's got me scared - Bumble sounds like a bit of a handful!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 That's because Bumble is huge, not a bantam. He's a Cobar & he is going to a new loving home next weekend. He's like a flippin' Jersey giant. My pekins haven't gone broody yet & they are very good little layers! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 Hi Dinkychick, been wondering how you were getting on with Alfred... I don't know what to do - I was just wishfully thinking that a cockerel might teach our naughty Hilda some manners! If the long awaited bumpa bit doesn't work, (& I wouldn't put it past Hilda to find a way of pecking with it on!) then we might get a bantam cockerel... Hiya, we are getting on ok with Alfred ta He only started crowing this week but it will annoy the neighbours in the end, he isn't nasty towards us, infact he runs away, but he does still peck bunny, but then we haven't had the new girls for that long. I dunno if you getting a banty would solve the pecking thing.... like i said Strut will race up to him and do a stand off...he puts his heckles up etc, but she isnt afraid. Your girl sounds much more tough than strut lol. If she will do that to alfred who isnt a small coq then what chance does a banty coq stand wiv your girl? Just a thought btw Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejmum Posted November 9, 2008 Share Posted November 9, 2008 We have a cockeral hybrid. He is great with our nine hens but has had both of my children in tears on many an occasion. He charges at my 7 year old relentlessly, I'm worried he will peck an eye sooner or later. Not really sure what to do to stop it. Think about it carefully, they can be really aggressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 APPARANTLY a good way to cure their aggressiveness is to do teh "dance" right back at them. As you're bigger, they SHOULD (h'mmm) give way to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 we got one by mistake as it were, and although amorous and noisy, so far he's great! he's a silkie though, so only little. my neighbour, who grew up on a free range chicken farm, says the chooks are happier for having a cockerel about - personally, I'm not sure it makes any difference and to be honest I wouldnt go out in search of one if we didnt have Apricot by default. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dinkychick Posted November 10, 2008 Share Posted November 10, 2008 aww typical eh? Now we have decided Alfred has to go he does the sweetest thing tonight... its getting dark and he rounded all his girls up well the 2 he could find. Smeegal the piggy was out eating and decided to roost on top of the eglu as it was a bit dark for her to find her way home (they really do have poor eye sight! it wasnt that dark lol) I picked her up and popped her in the run, Alfred came out of the eglu and rounded her up to. Aww belss. Still has to go tho...sorry matey but you woke up half the street this morning haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
