moochoo Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 Well I'm in a real pickle. As some of you know I've just started my new flock of pure breed girlies. I um'd and aah'd over having a cockerel too but where I got them from only had boys in with breeding groups. My friend has done some hatching this year and has a stunning silver laced Orpington boy available and my heart is telling me to have him but my head is saying what about the noise, the damage to my girls with his treading, etc, etc. I love the idea of having a boy to keep my girlies company but what do you guys think. Should I let my heart rule my head? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 If your girls are a happy group and unless you have moved house I would say dont do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I agree. I'll admit that my experience of cockerels is fairly limited, apart from any hatchlings that I have , well, hatched. A friend of mine has several, each penned in their own area with their harems, and whilst they have all been sweet and biddable in their first year, albeit noisy, they are a horse of an entirely different colour once matured and with surging hormones. My friend knows how to deal with them, but admits that she would never let a child anywhere near, or a nervy adult as they can be very dangerous ... and they crow all day long, so if you live in an urban setting, you might want to reconsider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganymoo Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I would say yes! all the cockerels i've ever met haven't been a problem! Plus you'll be able to have loads of chicks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted July 31, 2011 Author Share Posted July 31, 2011 Thanks for your opinions. I knew you'd talk some sense into me. I think I'll continue to dream until I win some cash and move to the country! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koo2cat Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 The noise is deafening! We stayed at a farm last weekend and they had 20 beautiful brown hens. The first morning I was woken at 5am by this terrible crowing and said to my husband they must have a cockerel! I asked the farmer later on that day and he said no it was a cockerel in the next farm 2 miles away!!!!! Honestly, it woke us up every morning and crowed pretty much all day so if you live near anyone or don't want to be woken up very early in the summer I would steer clear! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 I love having a cockerel with my girls but, unless you have no neighbours, I would say no. You will be worrying constantly about the noise they make and, as has already been said, they crow all day not just in the morning at stupid o'clock! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forestchook Posted July 31, 2011 Share Posted July 31, 2011 moochoo, I think you have made the right decision. I love my boy Bosley, and he's adorable when he looks after his girls. However, I am now very much bound because I have to be home to put him in his bacholor pad in the shed each night. If I don't he wakes the neighbours up in the early hours. Even now I do worry he may be driving them up the wall when he decides to crow and crow and crow.... but so far there have been no complaints (well not since I starting putting him in the shed each night). I took him fully aware I might not be able to keep him but knowing at least if I took him he had a chance. He was for the chop if I didn't. So far it has worked out but if I get complaints or he begins to get aggressive I may have a very difficult decision to make Excuse me for hijacking the thread... whilst they have all been sweet and biddable in their first year, albeit noisy, they are a horse of an entirely different colour once matured and with surging hormones. I have read on here a lot of boys get aggressive in their second year. Is that when they are two years old? Or the year after they hatched? Bolsey is now one year old but techincally this would be his second summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
