Take part in study on PFAS 'forever chemicals' in eggs

[balti]

In total I have 5 hens and a Kenny cock. I have 2 4 week old chicks with one of the hens, I think a boy and a girl. One

has a red comb and the other has not ??

 

From what i read mum will soon lose interest and go back into main chicken area living chicks. I guess once the

girl reaches an age she can go in - but that leaves Pip.... Will he ever be able to go in? or Will Ken cock kill him?

 

Also.... I guess once the boy chick comes of age he could mate with his mum. And with sister . . . .I know it

sounds stupid but if i hatched some more eggs could these chicks suffer problems?

 

Thanks

[Patricia W]

I've never been able to keep 2 cockerels together. I think you could if you had a large number of hens, but I'm guessing that's not the case with you. And yes, the cockerel will mate with sisters, daughters etc so not a good idea to keep breeding from the same stock.

[chuckmum6]

I would agree with this, also I would caution adding one hen in with the flock, two are better as they share the inevitable bulling when the pecking order is being established.

[atsw]

Although I have a Dad and a Son living together in my flock, I agree with Patricia W and chuckmum6, with only a small number of hens you may find you have trouble keeping two boys together. You certainly don't want to encourage inter-breeding and introducing a single hen wont be without it's challenges either.

 

Andrew

[Redwing]

Brothers can be ok but father and son rarely works because the father will be much more mature at first then as the youngster matures he will try for the top spot which doesnt go down well. Brothers usually are ok because one will normally assume the dominant spot early on and stay there

 

Mating across related birds isnt usually a problem and is very common in breeding circles where flocks can be completely closed to outside birds. Sibling matings are generally discouraged where practical but mating across the generations is very common

[balti]

I guess my situation is'nt rare at all. I will have a cock that cant go in my main house. I cant get rid of him. - im

assuming he is a cock - he has redness forming on his head for past week - the other has nothing.