Madchook Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 I have had my boy for 7 months since he was a wee thing. I have 3 girls, only 2 of which are in lay (and consequently he is only treading those 2-and has been for 2 months or so). The 2 in-lay girls have been looking a bit out of sorts(lost weight and a bit bedraggled) in the last couple of weeks, which I have put down to pretty much consistently laying the last 18months/2 yrs and the time of yr). But today I noticed he has torn the lowest pecking order hen's comb from her head - the wound is probably nearly an inch and her comb is flopping down. Luckily it has scabbed and looks like healthy healing (and I am kind of glad I didn't see it fresh as I would have panicked!) . The other layer has scabs in the same area - but he prob doesn't tread her as much as she escapes more often/less likely to crouch. Anyway, those two girls are now in the spare eglu and i plan to pamper them back to full resilience (also means they can't hide the eggs-bonus!). But I have left Diego free ranging with the fat non-layer and they can continue to live in the cube at night (since Diego moved into the girls house they have all freeranged all day everyday and if I keep him in I think he would complain...loudly). I just wanted some advice really - this damage is purely from treading, he isn't aggressive with them in any other respect and I want to keep him - but I don't want to risk him completely tearing her comb off because he is an 'aggressive lover' Was I stupid getting a cockeral with only 3 hens -does he need more wives or is it just him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Depends who is giving an opinion. Some articles say 1:8 others say 1:20. SOme even specify 1:3 as a minimum. It sounds as if he needs more wives, or a method of keeping him away from them at times to give them some respite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Gosh the little devil. I bet some of the blokes reading this wish they were chickens!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Gosh the little devil. I bet some of the blokes reading this wish they were chickens!! PMSL, nearly needed to wipe tea off my monitor then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Gosh the little devil. I bet some of the blokes reading this wish they were chickens!! PMSL, nearly needed to wipe tea off my monitor then Same here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Perhaps a poultry saddle on the hen & maybe a bumper bit fitted to the cockerel? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Madchook Posted January 20, 2009 Author Share Posted January 20, 2009 hehehe. Ironically he was very late to mature and was cowering from the girls until 6 months old! He also is a complete wuss with next doors (farm) bantam cockeral who comes into our garden-he is 3 times the size of him! Oh I did wonder about the bumper bit - don't much fancy trying to fit it He is a different ballpark to the hens, knows his name and comes running tame as you like..but handling is a bit of a challenge! I did also wonder about that spray but I guess his pecking is all a bit impulsive..not so much habitual. 1:8 eh? Guess I am being *forced* to get more wives for him then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 20, 2009 Share Posted January 20, 2009 Looks like that temporarily empty Eglu is going to be occupied soonish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted January 21, 2009 Share Posted January 21, 2009 Depends on the breed as to a good ratio - some are more, erm "active" than others. it would make sense if it depends on the individual bird to some extent, too! I would add some more! Hurrah! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
