4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[LittleOwl]

Hi all! Hope I've posted this in the right place.

 

A few months ago we moved to a place with 3 or so acres, and we are currently looking to get a cube with a run and extension. We are hoping to rehome some ex-bats, but our set-up is such that we could take a cockerel too without upsetting the neightbours (we don't have any ) and as we are both early risers we don't care! I know that they are normally harder to rehome and it would be good to help out.

 

Anyway, as the title suggests. Can we?

 

Thank you!

 

PS. We will be going out and buying books and reading up on all of this too, promise!

[tom123]

Yep you can however I would be careful introducing weak ex-batts to a cockerel as he will be a bit rough, I would wait until the ex-batts build up their strength and are feathered up again and then a cockerel, maybe a smaller breed ( not an orp, RIR, Light sussex etc.)

 

Tom

[LittleOwl]

Thanks Tom. That answers that!

 

In terms of what could fit into an eglu, would a cockerel (even a small one as you suggest) count as the same as one hen, or the equivalent of 2? I know it seems like a very silly question, but I am a total newbie

[deejmum]

We kept a cockerel with our hens for nearly a year but we rehomed him because he wouldnt leave the hens alone and literally pulled the feathers from their backs. He also attacked us on a regular basis and we needed to defend ourselves everytime we went into the run. Apparently you can get soft cockerels though.

 

Good luck!

 

There was plenty of room for 9 hens plus him in the cube at night though.

[Gallina]

There was plenty of room in my Cube for two large cockerels plus three large hens.

 

(There wouldn't be room for a cockerel in the little Eglu, however, as they stand too tall.)

 

That isn't, however, the problem. Cockerels are not docile, and unless they are allowed to free-range all the time they are a real nuisance.

 

The constant mating annoyed the girls (first one started and I got rid of him, and then the other took over). They had very sore backs, and I would recommend buying saddles for your girls if they are all cooped up together for long periods.

 

But you need to try it once if you can: I wouldn't have wanted to miss the experience of having cockerels. Both were two pure-breeds, and so I found it relatively easy to find good homes for them. Both are now probably fathers, which is nice.