Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[seanog]

Hi I have an eglu cube with the 2m run and have 4 RIR chickens. I was thinking of getting a cockerel/rooster to keep the "flock" together when I let them Free range in the field. Does anyone have any info about them like will he mate with the ladies more than once a day are they aggressive and any other info I might need to know any help would be much appreciated.

[OllieNLucys Mum]

Hi I have a cockerel and 3 hens They are kept in a cube with the run extension.

 

I have to say this was not from choice. My son brought home 2 chicks when I was away for a few days and one turned out to be male. They were very cute together and stuck together like glue, but when they matured Ollie was a right pain treading Lucy all day to the point the poor girl was exhausted. I therefore got 2 more girls to take the pressure off.

 

 

The 4 of them live quite happily together in a cube. They free ranged last summer and Ollie was the one who ventured furthest away, Lucy always trying to stay with him but the other girls weren't bothered. He does stand guard a lot and sounds the alarm if needed then they all run for the cube At the moment sadly they are not free ranging but are all confined behind 50m electric net as they just wander off way to far and I worry about them.

 

Ollie was reared from a chick and lets me handle him, well not lets exactly but I manage. He is very aggressive with virtually everyone except me. He has never gone for me but does other people with full on attack and he has massive spurs that rip up clothing and legs

 

I don't know what it is like to keep hens on their own. They do seem to look to him for protection and he likes to tell them where the food is etc . He treads them as and when he feels like it, 2 of them put up with him but Zara always tries to get away he pins her neck to the floor with his massive beak so she has a few missing neck feathers.

 

I wouldn't be without Ollie as he is definitely the most interesting and entertaining and has far more character than the hens but life would be easier for me without him as then anyone could look after them.

[Jools]

I couldn't be without a boy either, they're such characters. Yes, they do look after their wives, sometimes to their own detriment. They are also very "active", particularly from sping through til autumn, and don't actually give up completely during winter.

 

My advice would be that if you live where crowing isn't an issue and you have the space to add to your flock, then go for it. Just keep an eye on the hens to make sure he isn't damaging their wings, neck or back with his "attentions".

[seanog]

Thanks for the advice. I was also wondering if any of the fertilized eggs were hatched and they were hybrids would they be good layers.

[jennydavies]

I don't know what it is like to keep hens on their own. They do seem to look to him for protection and he likes to tell them where the food is etc . He treads them as and when he feels like it, 2 of them put up with him but Zara always tries to get away he pins her neck to the floor with his massive beak so she has a few missing neck feathers.

 

[OllieNLucys Mum]

Aaw don't worry Jenny, Zara is none the worse for wear and he does look out for her. He spends hours guarding while his ladies happily peck around and at the first sign of any perceived trouble on their part they run for cover while Ollie deals with it.

 

Ollie and Lucy themselves are hybrids. Both of them being farm yard crosses. Lucy is a prolific layer. She laid her first egg in August last year and hasn't had a day off since, not even when it was -10 for nearly a fortnight. My Welsummers didn't come into lay until they were a lot older starting in March this year they are now laying every day too. Iwould love to hatch a few of our eggs but can't run the risk of a cockerel as couldn't keep more than 1.

 

 

Btw cockerels crowing in the morning is a myth Ollie crows morning noon and night