Solitary chicken - need advice

[OllieNLucys Mum]

Hi everyone I now have my own login rather than using my son sams.

 

So following Lucys return to health all was well in the coop then I heard this awful screeching. I ran round to the chooks and saw poor lucy pinned to the floor by Ollie

 

I guess he was doing what cockerels do but Lucy is half the size of him and he was literally squashing her. I shouted at him and he ran off. Poor Lucy then went and sat in the corner looking really miserable with her head tucked right in.

 

I reckon this may have been the problem all along and she was tormented by him to the point of giving up and not eating or drinking and became dehydrated.

 

 

As some of you may know I didn't aquire these birds from choice but had 2 chicks foisted upon me by my son. He had got them from a rescue and we had no idea what they would turn into. It seems we have a huge white cockerel I believe to be a leghorn and a little hen possibly a Maran.

 

I had worried about the size issue, its a shame they weren't the other way round with a maran cockerel but thats life. I had hoped when they got bigger to introduce further larger hens (ex bats) to give Ollie a bigger harem.

 

Being totally new to chooks I hadn't expected him to start treading( if that is the right word ) so young.

 

We thought they had hatched around about the 1st May. When Sam got them they were both small fluffy chicks although Ollie was twice the size of Lucy.

 

 

So what to do ? Can I add more girls now I just so wish we didn't have a cockerel the "kids "( 18 and 22 on saturday )are adament I don't try and rehome him as they reckon despite what new owner may say after they get him he will be destined for the pot.

 

Sorry this is so long well done to anyone getting this far.

 

Ideas please. Thanks

[Chucky Mama]

I can't offer any tips but I am glad to hear that Lucy is getting better and at least now you have an idea of why she was off colour in the first place. Of the point completely do you know if Sam is still coming to the meet at Blooms tomorrow?

[OllieNLucys Mum]

Yes I think Sam intends on coming.

I guess he will be wanting me to take him as although it is only a couple of miles away from where we live there is no bus and would involve walking across junction 16

[Chucky Mama]

Yes I think Sam intends on coming.

I guess he will be wanting me to take him as although it is only a couple of miles away from where we live there is no bus and would involve walking across junction 16

 

Great, I look forward to meeting him. You could stay for a chat too, sounds like the are the new granny

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Found you .

 

No advice re the cockeral I'm afraid, I've just no experience of them at all .

[Olly]

I'm going to move this into 'Chickens', because I think you'll get more advice on there!

[Egluntyne]

One hen to a cockerel is nowhere near enough I'm afraid. He will wear her out.

 

The general advice is a ratio of a minimum of 8 hens per cockerel......with plenty of room to avoid his unwanted attentions. You would need a couple of extensions on your cube at least.

 

I reckon that you are going to have to have a rethink about finding him a new home, or roasting him, to be blunt.

 

Why not try the**Poultry Forum ** Practical or the **Omlet Marketplace** . I'm afraid we are unable to assist in rehoming him via the forum.

 

There is further useful advice to be found in our **Rehoming Policy**

 

Best of luck.

[Olly]

Crumbs - I knew someone would have the answer, but 8:1!

[Guest]

.....

I had worried about the size issue, its a shame they weren't the other way round with a maran cockerel but thats life. I had hoped when they got bigger to introduce further larger hens (ex bats) to give Ollie a bigger harem.

 

...

 

if you do get ex batts, don't let them mix with the cockerel until they've regained their strength and are fully rehabilitated. They won't be strong enough, at first, to deal with a cockerels attentions.

[Snowy]

On the other hand, introducing newbies should be easier as the cockerel will keep them in line!

[Staffordmum]

Did anyone see "The Lady-killer looking for a hen party" article in the Daily Mail of 09.07.09?

 

A veterinary nurse from Nottinghamshire is seeking a new home for him after he "left his hen is such a shattered and exhausted state that she died"!

 

I am absolutely appalled ...

[Egluntyne]

There was a whole thread about it, which vanished when part of the Chickens Section was accidentally deleted. See Announcement above.

 

 

I think it is fair to say that we were all appalled.........and noticed that the poor lad had a serious case of Scaley Leg Mite.

[craftyhunnypie]

I have Spongebob with 5 ladies & Boon has 9 ladies ( big boy Cochin). Bingo only has 2 ladies, but he hasn't much idea yet. He can have a couple or so more pekins a he grows up. All my cockerels are with ladies their size.

The ideal thing for your cockerel would be to put him in separate accomodation with some new ladies his own size. Not much alternative really.

 

Emma.x

[mostin]

Until you can sort things out can you halve your run with some chicken wire down the middle or something to give your lady somewhere to get away.

 

Good luck with what ever you decide to do. It's a great excuse to get more hens . I've accidentally ended up with a cockerel, which I bought as a hen , and he's just beginning to get interested in the girls now. Luckily for me, I have 12 girls for him, and my 4 ex-batts are well recovered now.

 

As others have said, there are lots more breeders on the forum who will want your boy for his amorous attentions, not for the pot , so if you can't get a bigger hareem for him, I would try there 1st.