Gamebird Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 (edited) A friend of a friend rescued several cockerels who had been left to fend for themselves after their ‘owner’ had moved house and didn’t want the bother of taking their surplus male birds with them!!! Unbelievable but true. So now I have ‘Colin’ who is described as “Partridge Pekin mixed with something else”. He is such a placid sweetheart (so far) and so after 10 days’ of quarantine, during which time he has been sprayed with Xeno 200 to rid him of troublesome scaley leg mite and other creepy crawlies, he has now progressed to his own area within my existing flock’s territory. I sprinkled corn along the adjoining borders to bond and reassure both parties and tonight I allowed the girls and boy to free-range together for the last hour before bedtime with great success. My six girls have been together for two years on their own so I wasn’t sure how they would react to a single ‘foreign’ introduction. Mabel, my top chook, did have a bit of a chest to chest demonstration with Colin but nothing more serious. The girls then took themselves to their beds and Colin put himself to bed in his coop. So far so good – let’s see what happens tomorrow.!! Being a first time cockerel owner I’m not sure if this reaction is normal. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Edited March 3, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 Intros should be fine and much quicker than adding a girl The girls may well see how far they can push their luck with the boy especially if he is young so initially he will be chased and thrown the odd peck but within 10 days or so he should have assumed authority, even in the initial period there is nothing like the nastiness that occurs between girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 I've got an enormous grin on my face cos of the name 'Colin'.It just seems so right for a cockerell! Glad the introduction went well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 2, 2010 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 Intros should be fine and much quicker than adding a girl The girls may well see how far they can push their luck with the boy especially if he is young so initially he will be chased and thrown the odd peck but within 10 days or so he should have assumed authority, even in the initial period there is nothing like the nastiness that occurs between girls You're right. He does seem to have that air of authority that tells the girls that he is to be respected but in reality he is "a bit of a pussy cat and if you want to flirt with me and let me know that my gold feathering is rather special then I'm actuallya bit of a pushover!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 2, 2010 Share Posted March 2, 2010 most cockerels are endlessly charming, they add a certain something to chicken keeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 2, 2010 Author Share Posted March 2, 2010 I've got an enormous grin on my face cos of the name 'Colin'.It just seems so right for a cockerell! Glad the introduction went well. Glad you approve. He is such a lovely boy and is more interested in exploring his new surroundings than sussing out the girls!! Maybe he's just a bit naive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 I'm sure you're going to have endless fun with him; any idea of his age; it may be he's a tad young to be fully interested in the ladies? Also, is he smaller than them, perhaps he's a bit scared! When we were given a COF I guess he was about 8 months old. My oldest lady and top hen, had been single for 4 years but my boy couldn't wait to get at them (they were laying) and legged it faster than you would have thought possible to jump on TH, absolutely no introductions (I'm not 100% sure she'd even seen him!), first date etc etc. Since then she's remained his favourite (they go to bed together earlier than the rest!) and he's the best thing in the world. Soppy with me, kind to his ladies, endlessly fascinating.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 You'll enjoy him. We wouldn't be without Phillip Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 (edited) I don't know how old he is. He's not a lot smaller than the girls. He's definitely not pure Pekin because of his size. He looks as though he's got a bit of Bluebelle in him if that's possible. He does have lovely feathered pantaloons and a John Wayne walk. Any ideas as to what he might be? He's lost some feathers around his neck area but they are now growing back. Edited March 4, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 he is stunning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 He looks like he's wearing a cape! Sherlock Holmes or Watson? Or do we know any Spanish matadors, there must be one called Juan something, then he could be Don Juan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 He looks like he's wearing a cape! Sherlock Holmes or Watson? Or do we know any Spanish matadors, there must be one called Juan something, then he could be Don Juan! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 He's lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 He's lovely Looks like he may have some LF in him like you said, maybe a Copper Blue Maran as his colouring is identical? I don't know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seagazer Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 What a handsome chap he is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipistrelle Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 From his stance he looks more like the Lord Mayor, very regal! I think he'll take charge very quickly. He is certainly handsome A x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 most cockerels are endlessly charming, they add a certain something to chicken keeping Totally agree with this. Colin is one handsome chap Intros are def much easier with a cockerel than with other hens. Mine has "chest off" with top bantam chook Olive every day and pecks them all first thing in the morning as if to say I am boss....however he is a wimp when it comes to two original big girls and he runs away........he loves the ex-batts tho but just doesn't reach where he should when he does the business Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted March 3, 2010 Author Share Posted March 3, 2010 Thank you for all your nice repliesand comments which have made me smile. Tonight Colin went to bed in his own coop but came out about half an hour later to see where his girls had gone. He worked out that they sleep up a ladder in a different house and after a few attempts managed to make it to the top and bustled his way in amongst the sleeping ladies. Bless He's so sweet and apart from a few crows in the morning he is quiet for the rest of the day and has as yet not made any attempt to 'put upon' the girls. I think he is feeling a little bit stunned by his sudden change in fortune and probably can't believe his luck that he is now surrounded by a bevvy of beauties and is quitely working out which one he fancies first - either that or he is incredibly thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 He's gorgeous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 wow he is handsome! maybe crossed with a bantam or large orp to get that fluff and shape Absolutely adorable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 3, 2010 Share Posted March 3, 2010 He's stunning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 He's so ! Look at his cape Well done for rescuing him - looks like he's settling in well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 What a stunner! He looks very pleased with himself. You are lucky to have found each other. I am a cockerel fan. Every flock should have one. Three cheers for Colin. I love the name Don Juan, must keep it in mind, as Spring is coming and with it hopefully some chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docsquid Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 Wow - what a handsome fellow! A true Cockerel of Fate - and a lovely one too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted March 4, 2010 Share Posted March 4, 2010 He is lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
