Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[JPalmer]

Hi,

 

I noticed that someone was asking about help with introductions and I did read everything but I noticed nothing was said about if you have cockerals involved. Basically I got 3 chickens (was told they were female) in August they were 4-6 weeks (or so I was told think they were a bit younger) and come October one started to crow. Then in November another started to crow. I didn't panic too much cause I did want to get some more and this was the best excuse for hubby to swallow . I now have 3 new girls that I have segregated by using the end door of the run of my classic eglu within my WIR. I have tried a couple of times within the last couple of weeks that they have been with us to let them out to FR with the one hen and two cocks but the cocks are horribly aggressive and then the one hen starts helping them. Will they eventually come around to accepting them? Any ideas about how long it takes? Weeks, Months??? One of the new females is as big as the two cockerals and she really has been in their face when they try it on with her. She won't have it and she really starts to fight but with the hens she is a sweetheart. I have never seen her peck or do anything towards the others and one is very small and as a result I think is the less accepted she gets the brunt of the aggression. Just was curious as to what to expect and how long the new hens will be coming into the house in a box . BTW all the chickens are one breed Poland

Thanks ...

[Egluntyne]

I think that you will find that your cockerels will begin to fight over the hens, unless you have acres of land where each can roam with their own harem, or you can separate them into groups.

[craftyhunnypie]

I've got 6 cockerels. The only ones that will square up to each other are father & son. The others just go about their business with their hareems & avoid each other. That is so lovely to see, but also unusual. Most will fight - it is just their instinct.

 

Emma.x

[JPalmer]

Sorry you misunderstood the cockerals aren't fighting with eachother. They were raised together from hatching and they have never really went at each other at all even with the one hen. Which everyone has said is very strange, but it has occured cause they are fine with each other and if you try to separate any of the original three (2 cockerals,1 hen) then go nuts trying to get back together. I have strange birds! Gorgous but strange they don't really do what the books say they will do can't figure it out but (shrug).

 

The issue was with the new girls they really start going at them both trying to mate with them and brow (peck) them and after a few minutes the original hen will join in (not the mating part the pecking part). Just was wondering how anyone else has delt with adding to a flock with a cockeral or cockerals?? Thanks ...

[Chortle Chook]

I haven't had this situation myself, but why don't you try introducing one cockerel on his own to one new hen in a sort of mix and match? Just a thought.

[Redwing]

With one cockerel in a flock you may get some argy bargey at first and some cockerels can be quite rough in asserting their authority but after a day or so the cockerel will accept the girls and start to protect them and will sort out the existing bolshy hen

 

I'm not sure how a second cockerel will affect that introduction though

 

I'd be inclined to stick it out and trust the cockerels not to injure the hens