Locking Bar Eglu Classic

[PeckyBeak]

The 5 chicks we hatched under a broody are now 12 weeks old and we are fairly sure that we fortunately have only one cockeral - called Frank.

The chick's run is next to the WIR of the 23 big girls whose ages range between 8 months and 2 years. We have done introductions succesfully several times before, but never including a cockerel.

Several of the big girls have had 'mutterings and beak' confrontations with Frank, through the wire and I thought I would try free-ranging him and the other chicks with a few of the calmer girls including Izzie who was the broody that hatched him, but wants no more to do with the chicks, and Rhoda my usually calm 'head chook'. This lasted all of 2 seconds, then all hell broke loose. Izzie got to him first then Rhoda tried to put the boot in.

I don't know if this will ever work, and Frank may have to go. I don't want to upset Rhoda, what happens in this situation when there is a longstanding head chookand previously only girls?

He is a Leghorn Bantam, but quite large, my other girls are all large fowl.

Edited October 14, 2010 by Guest

[Patricia W]

It could be a size or age thing. But top hens often do challenge a cockerel when they first meet. Usually the cockerel asserts themselves and it all quiets down. I think I'd try a little longer, but he may be too small for them.

 

Tricia

[beach chick]

I think you might need to wait until he is bigger ... but once he's big enough I think they'll probably love him. Mine adored our cockerel, and we had a similar situation adding a cock to established girlie pecking order.

[sjp]

my top girl and the number 3 girl both beat up 17 week old TNN cock yesterday well gave him more of a kicking really.have to admit he needed it he need to learn so manners around the girls

I've got 2 at the moment and they've been FR with the girls for about 6 - 8 weeks it's in the last week or 2 that the TNN has started to make a pest of himself

[PeckyBeak]

Thank you, Interesting comments. Does it happen then that the 'head chook' can be a more mature girlie hen, even when there is a cockerel in the flock?

In view of the fact that he is smaller, will he perhaps settle for being lower down in the pecking order, or is there always likely to be conflict?

[Jools]

Once he's mature, he will rule the roost, regardless of his size!

[beach chick]

what jools said - our silkie cock was in charge of our mixed batch, and now rules the roost with some very big ladies!