Chicken bald back

[speckled hen]

Hello everyone

I have had my new girls for a couple of weeks now, they have been out with the others a few times.it is going ok but we are going slow. The only problem is Colin, he is pacing up and down next to the hen house waiting to get in to cookie and crumble When I opened the door today he ran in and jumped on poor crumble, fortunately she ran straight to me and I picked her up Cookie and crumble are young girls, not sure how old but I would say around 18 weeks. I haven't done introductions with colin yet as I only had girls before, so I am not sure what to do, I am assuming that they are too young for his attentions but he is desperate to visit them. Help!!!!!!! What should I do?

[Redwing]

Personally when the time comes to merge the flocks I would merge the two younger ones in with the other girls then add Colin to the mix afterwards

 

I would probably wait another 4 weeks or so before attempting anything at all

 

Normally a cockerel will be the minder for the group and settle arguements but yours certainly sounds a bit keen

 

When you said he wants to get in 'to cookie and crumble' I thought that was code for what he wanted to do for a minute

[speckled hen]

Oh gosh I did mean get in to the house

I will keep them apart until next month then, they are small girls and I would hate them to get hurt.

You mentioned about Colin looking after the flock, he really does, they seem to be a little family now, he even takes a dustbath with his girls

[Patricia W]

My problem with Phillip is slightly different. He is part of a trio and the three of them have been together for 18 months. The two girls have been rather aggressive to the 2 new ones and he has taken on the role of protecting them from these " intruders" and has attacked them.

 

He is now confined to the eglu and run alone as he has been ill and is on medication. This is enabling me to try to integrate the 4 girls - and hopefully, he can then be added to the mix. Interestingly, one of the new ones is coming into lay as she has developed red wattles. She has been hanging around the eglu run with the other two - so I think she's interested in him! The other one has no signs of wattles though so not sure how that will work..

 

Keep us updated as it's interesting to hear how flocks with cockerels get on.

 

 

Tricia

[OllieNLucys Mum]

I have a little flock Ollie and 3 girls. Ollie and Lucy were chicks together and are inseperable. The other 2 girls were aded at about 18 weeks.

 

The dynamics are interesting. Ollie is in charge but Lucy is not intimidated by him and will pinch food right out from under him. Phoebe and Chicken run a mile when he comes near but they are in charge of Lucy if Ollie is not there.

 

I thought I had read somewhere that the cockerel finds food for the flock etc. Ollie obviously didn't read the same book as he sees them off any food and eats it himself

 

I think he does feel a burden of responsibility though as he sems to be on the alert more than them. He is only young and as he matures and becomes more handsome he is starting to think he is the bees knees