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

[newcountrygirl]

I have 5 girls - a wyandotte bantam and a pekin bantam both of who are a couple of years old plus 3 young girls who are now POL. They are a lavendar Pekin, a silver laced Wyandotte and a Polish Frizzle - all bantams.

 

I am thinking I would like a cockerel to live with them. If I got one - would I be able to introduce him straight into the run or would I have to keep him segregated like I did when I introduced the three newbies?

[mimi5]

It's always a good idea to have a quarantine peiod. I have done a cockerel intro before and as I recently lost my boy am going to be doing it again soon!!

 

You should be able to add him to the group as soon as you are sure he is healthy and well. When I did it first time round I had been given a lav pekin girl at the same time, so had them together for 2 weeks in sight of the other girls and then pooped them all in the coop together at night so they came out together in the morning. All went well and they soon had the pecking order sorted!!!

 

This time have 2 accidental babies in my ark and not sure there's enough room for a boy aswell So in a bit of a fix as would like to have the boy and the 2 girls together first and then intro the 3 together to my 5 others! Have been trying to pick up a second hand classic or go from nearby .....but no luck and they seem to go for silly money on ebay.

 

May have to have a short quarantine and just go for it?! But waiting for one of my originals who's finishing a moult to be fitting fit first!!

 

I would say find a nice gentle boy as not all cockerels are!! My Monty was lovely and can never be replaced, but the girls are a spatting mess with a boy!!! Also a boy adds something to the flock

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks - I would want to get a nice friendly boy - cos my girls are all nice characters. Cant wait to start looking.

[Egluntyne]

If the cockerel is young, the older hens are quite likely to marmalise him. I'd make sure that he is at least as big as they are.

[charly1979]

When we first got Julian (who we thought was Judith) he got picked on horrendously (yes stupid to add 1 to a group) anyway I did manage to succesfully add him to my group of girlies took about 4 weeks of monitoring, but perhaps this is why as he was a baby (he still is but he is now a very big boy)

 

If the cockerel is young, the older hens are quite likely to marmalise him. I'd make sure that he is at least as big as they are.

 

Then 3-4 months later we found out thet he was in fact Julian and my mum took him on as he couldnt stay with us and I was worried about his fate if he went anywhere else, he was added to her girls with no issues (phew) mind you she had 2 girls that I bought from the same place that were in the same run as him and hatched on the same day and my lot do spend the odd week at mums when we go on holiday so maybe they remembered him ???

 

Only 2 of my 7 are orginals and know her chickens so dreading their next vacation that will be fun

[mimi5]

I'd make sure that he is at least as big as they are.

 

Totally agree !! He needs to be atleast as big as the girls, forgot to say that earlier

[Redwing]

A Pekin, Poland or Silkie cockerel would be a good fit.

 

Watch the Poland as their heads are poorly guarded when it comes to pecks and they havent got the best vision

 

The cockerel doesnt necessarily need to be physically as big as the girls but he does need to be mature ideally

 

Older birds will run rings round a young male and it will take much longer for him to establish authority

[newcountrygirl]

Thanks everyone - I had already thought about that. I will be looking out for a mature bird rather than a young one. I quite fance a Polish Frizzle to go with my gorgeous girlie but then the others may feel left out so may go for something else.

 

I would also love a Pekin as I already have two Pekin ladies - but wouldnt he be a bit small against the Wyandottes?

[TAJ]

I have 2 silkie boys who are lovely, not too big, reasonably quiet and they look after their girls well.

 

Tracy