sjp Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 whats the best format for setting up a breeding group of 3or4 hens and a young cockerel. I've got 3 or 4 girls in one coop that I want to breed with my young cockerel who's still in with his sisters (they will go into the group that I'll take the 3 from). I've got a spare coop and run that I intend to move them to. I've only ever done one intro with a cockerel before and that was just into an existing group along with a pullett that he'd grown up with. all ideas welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Not sure if this will help as I've only ever done a cockerel intro once...but here goes! I had 3 original girls together and they squabbled loads so I went back to the breeder who had said I could have a boy for free. Also I had wanted a lavender but hadn't been able to get one....then my best friiend offered me hers....who was being bullied by her large hens!! So got them both and popped them into together for 2 weeks quarrantine within sight of the girls! Then just pooped them all together in the same coop at night and had no problems really bar the usual who's going to be top chook, Monty the cockerel just took charge. Oh they were all about the same age, around 6 months old. Hopefully you'll also have easy time too??!! By the way what are breeding?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 We do everything at night. We have the main run which currently has 18 girls and 3 cockerels in it. Come breeding time we take the girls we want and the cockerel we want and put them into another run. We do incubate our eggs though, so once we have enough, the breeding lot are moved at night and put back into the hen house. When everyone comes out in the morning (touch wood) there has been very little fuss. I might be going completely against the grain here but I do sometimes think that the more fuss you make about integration/introductions etc. the more chance they get to set up opposing camps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted November 15, 2012 Author Share Posted November 15, 2012 I moved the 3 girls into the spare coop on Sunday and moved the 3 pulletts into No2 coop the cockerel I left on his own. this morning I let him out to FR then desided to let the 3 girls outwith him so far at just over an hour all seems fine he's following the older girl sround like a love sick puppy and the other 2 are a little bit warey but are settling down they are at least in the same part of the garden Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
