brumtom Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hello, New to the forum so hello. We recently inherited 3 chicks and have been looking after them since week 6 of their lives. We had the unfortunate situation 2 weeks ago when one of our chicks 'Cissy' who became a cockerel had to go to a local smallholding to be looked after there, he was a juvenile cockerel but was capable of crowing and was nearly fully crowing when we gave him to his new owner. All three chicks are now 15 weeks old. All was fine until we got home and 1 days later what we expected to be a female hen 'Ginger' started crowing as well, she is doing this most mornings and its not a full crow but more of a strangled crow but it's pretty close. I have read up on cockerel behaviour and this chicken shows none of it, she is held, stroked, will take food from our hands and also doesn't shy away from us like the cockerel did. She/he is a big girl but doesn't have a large tail and she squats when we touch her which our cockerel would not do. She is the easiest going of the three and if I was going to show a visitor how tame they are I would definitely choose her. Ginger and Cissy never fought, however Cissy now and again would peck Ginger in a non aggressive way but would still peck. Ginger and she doesn't strut like the cockerel did. I also felt was in charge of the 3 hens, but Cissy did the strutting of the group. To be frank the heartbreak of sending the cockerel to the small holding was a lot to deal with, I worry that we are in denial about this one now. What do people think ? I'd be interested to hear other peoples opinions. There is a lot of conflicting information on the net. Thanks, Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Can you post a photo ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 http://s120.photobucket.com/user/tombelte/slideshow/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 16, 2014 Author Share Posted June 16, 2014 Hope that is useful ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Sorry I think it is a cockerel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 Sorry I agree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I agree, it's a cockerel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted June 16, 2014 Share Posted June 16, 2014 I'm sorry, but I also think cockerel. pointy rather than rounded saddle feathers def suggest cockerel to me. Also beginning to see downward sweep of saddle feathers. large red comb and wattles for me confirm gender. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I cant see anything leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Cockerel for me as well Brumtom. On one of the photos I thought I caught a glimpse of a spur growing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Here he is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 No doubt in my mind. They're tree trunks not legs. The feathering and the wattles a give away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miller30 Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I can see lol yep deffo boy leanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Thank you very much for your feedback and help. Ginger is going back to his brother now at the small holding, we will be getting another couple of hens to keep our lonesome hen company when her brother goes away. The lesson here is to not get chicks unless you have the capabilities to house a cockerel, I would never do it again but I must say watching the little dudes grow up has been an absolute pleasure and we will be glad to see them going to a really big free range with lots of other hens to hang around with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Glad there's a happy ending for your fabulous boy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 Hello All. We are having to say goodbye to our Ginger who is a boy and not a girly. He is going to a nice free range small holding near by and will have a lovely life. However, that leaves us with one hen who is 16 weeks old. We have an eglu and we want to introduce one more hen. Does anyone have any tips please? How old should the hen be? There is lots of conflicting stuff about- some people are saying put the new one in a roosting time, others are saying introduce over 3 weeks! The issue is we have is only having one eglu. Her two brothers will have both moved house by then and I don't want any more stress or upset for me or her. We are new to this so any help would be appreciated. Thank you in advance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I'm sorry that Ginger turned out to be a boy. I can't offer much advice about what age any new ones should be that you introduce to your other girl, but I just wanted to say that having chicks at 6 weeks or so is so nice, and that the best breeders know the sex of their chooks. I got my chicks from an excellent breeder in Milton Keynes and she knew they were definitely girls. I hope you manage to find your lone girl some new friends soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 I can only talk from personal experience and would choose a hen of similar maturity. So she's probably not laying yet at 16 weeks so one coming up to point of lay. If you can divide the run for a few days so they get familiar without being able to fight it helps. Having said that I introduced a lone hen. She jumped over my back and got on with it without problems You can put a cat box at one end of the run and then stick bamboo canes across the run through the bars to make a divide. Someone will post a pic to show how it's done. It's a lot less stressful than putting them in at night and watching what happens. What sort are you going for? another little red hen they are the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted June 18, 2014 Share Posted June 18, 2014 A couple of years ago I had a black rock die suddenly. I went straight out and got another one that looked the same. The integration was seem less. I would suggest you get another ginger one ASAP (or 2) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 18, 2014 Author Share Posted June 18, 2014 Thanks very much for being so kind, it will be the sticks introduction and we will go from there. Will keep everyone updated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brumtom Posted June 25, 2014 Author Share Posted June 25, 2014 We have introduced a new hen and after much upset(from myself and Robshaw) and biting (not me) it has all turned out ok! Phew, its ben an emotional 12 weeks! Thank you for everyones advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
