austele_1 Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Hi everyone Need a bit of help if possible, I have 3 pekin bantams. 2 hens and one cockerel. Discovered a large lump on my cockerel yesterday and after taking him to the vet today have found he has 2 tumours! The vet never said if they were cancerous but seeing as she let me have a free consultation I'm taking it as bad news. The problem I'm facing is if my cockerel dies what do I do for the girls? They've grown up together and it's heartbreaking to know that there going to be split up. Never more than a metre apart. I do want more chickens but really stuck on what to do. Do I get a new cockerel and a new hen, or just two hens? Also if I get more and I get a cockerel do they need to be the same age as my hens? (There just over 2.) Also if I do get a hen and a cockerel would I need to separate them first and slowly move them together or because I have a cockerel would they be okay? Sorry for all the questions, don't really know what to do. Any advice would be appreciated, thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karlotta Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 Sorry to hear about your boy... When the time comes, I think you'd be ok to just put a single cockerel in with your girls (subject to suitable quarantine periods), as long as he's mature. I moved my Poland bantam boy in with my big girls (when my pekin boys grew up and took a dislike to him!) and they didn't give him a second glance! I have a mixed flock of orps/brahma/vorwerk/hybrids/sussex etc). I think as long as the new boy isn't a baby then the girls will be fine for him to take the dominant position in the flock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted November 24, 2011 Share Posted November 24, 2011 I just popped Harvey in with the girls. There was a moment of fronting up with Rhoda and it was over as soon as it started. He has 8 girls to keep him happy now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
austele_1 Posted November 25, 2011 Author Share Posted November 25, 2011 Thank you. I am currently putting out feelers in my area for a new little boy. Don't know long Dylan has left, looks quite a bit worse today and I want to be prepared for when it happens. Mostly worried about the girls. Thank you for the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...