AlphaChickens Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hello, I'm having to replace an unexpected cockerel with a new hen. I think I've now sourced a new hen, and have found a home for my boy, but I wondered - would introductions be easier if the cockerel was still in the flock? I can either swap him out and her in on the same day, or she can join the flock a few days before he leaves it. The flock is currently one 18 week cockerel and three 16-18 week hens (at least I'm praying the other three are definitely hens...) My instinct says having him there would keep the others in line and help to integrate her, but my instincts have been wrong before (hence the cockerel!! ) Many thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 He is probably too young to be able to keep the peace. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaChickens Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hi Egluntyne, Thanks for the response. Is there any harm in leaving him in there for the intros though? He's fairly feisty (and bigger than the others) and the hens are very submissive at the moment. Is there a particular way to work the intros with a cockerel? Introduce the new hen to just him first, then the two of them to the others or something? Sorry for all the questions - my fault for buying 8-week-old 'female' hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surf_space Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 Didn't you only just purchase/introduce your flock recently? If you have surely they haven't established a full pecking order yet, and adding in one more wouldn't be a problem? ...When we got our first flock we got the first four then a couple of days later found a suitable cockerel and just placed him in the coop when they were sleeping, in the morning they were all fine and continued to establish the pecking order. Couldn't you just add your new hen in, keeping your eye on her? Sorry if I'm wrong, but thought it may be useful Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted December 12, 2012 Share Posted December 12, 2012 as said already he's to young to keep the peace and as he'll become a bit of a pest in a couple of weeks untill the girls teach him some manners. and to be honest if he's anything like my man boy then he'll run for cover we ever the girls start to bicker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaChickens Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Hi, We've had these four from 8 weeks, since they were quite small. I think the pecking order is fairly established for this reason - there were a few s"Ooops, word censored!"s at the beginning, but now the order's fairly clear, the cockerel is at the top, then Doris the Dorking, Bertha the Barnevelder and Beryl the little Buff Sussex at the bottom... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlphaChickens Posted December 12, 2012 Author Share Posted December 12, 2012 Lol sjp - thanks. I'll move him on then. I don't like the idea of him becoming a pest, and for some reason I've gone all prudish about preserving my girls' virtue! Will just have to hope the others are still a bit too young to give the new girl a hard time. I've got the gentian violet spray at the ready just in case. Thanks for the advice everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
