flowerpots Posted August 4, 2015 Share Posted August 4, 2015 Hi Folks, I'm looking for a bit of advice. We have a flock of seven chickens. Two Welsumer cockerels, one Welsumer hen, one Cream Legbar hen and three Black Rock hens. They are all 15-20 weeks old. The Black Rocks are a recent addition, the others we have had from day old chicks (all were supposed to be Welsumers but a Legbar sneaked in!). A problem at the moment is one of the cockerels the under dog of the two boys is bullying the Black Rocks. Pecking at there heads, chasing them away from food and nipping/holding onto there legs if he can. No sign of blood or physical inury at the moment. The dominate cockerel is completly non agressive to the new hens. The boys also get along great between themselves. We were hoping to keep the two boys but obviously we do not want a bully. Is this something that will improve or get worse with time as the boys get older? We are supposed to get some ex-batts in a few weeks but I am concerned the underdog cockerel will see them as an easy target. The chickens are free range. xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimnpaula Posted August 6, 2015 Share Posted August 6, 2015 Hi and welcome to the forum! I can't answer your question as I don't have even one cockeral but I'm sure there are a few people on here who have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 As with Paula I don't have any boys in my little flock and I have to admit I don't know much about this topic but I think 2 cockerels might need a few more girls, I would say one guy per 6-7 hens at least. If I am right I don't think the fighting will get any better all the time there are such few girls to argue over. The dominant hen has nothing to prove its the next in line that is usually the bully as they don't want to go any further down the pecking order....my top girl is very old and not fast on her feet anymore but she doesn't need to be, she knows she is boss and the other know their place. If you get some ex-commercial girls you will have to keep them separate for a while so they can gain confidence and condition before they go in with the rest of the flock, that I do know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 I keep 2 cockerels it was 3 but I lost Boris the old man earlier in the year basically he gave up after Fred the 2nd in the pecking order deposed him and then once he was confident in his new role as top banana he gave Boris a good kicking no harm was done or blood drawn but it was enough for Boris to give up with in 2 days he was dead Fred is the top one and No3 who's a week older than Fred ( both lived together with a Barnvelder pullet that I got at the same time as Fred as day olds because No3 ( No3 because he was 3rd in the pecking order ) was a lone hatchling) for nearly a year as No3 was a late bloomer who although the 2nd lad is lower down the over all pecking order as Fred's older girls plus the mid ranking CLB will give No3 a kicking if he needs it. they put up with each other when FR Fred has the bottom part of the garden No3 has the top part by the house with a bit of no mans land in front of my tomato greenhouse and a bit of deputed land by the doors to their runs which belongs to which ever one holds their nerve the longer if challenged they will and do square off every now and again but at the moment their to lazy to push the issue and as long as No3 out runs Fred they muddle along. all the trouble with the boys is always caused by the lower ranking one once he get over confident in is own ability and it's normally starts in early spring if the top lad is still stronger in sprit and ability and the 2 are more or less well matched then they'll carry on the status quo but if one or other of them thinks they have a slight advantage then they'll keep having a go at each other until one backs down or gets killed in the worst case scenario if you keep yours together in the same run you'll need enough space for every one to get out of the way plus you'll need good hen to cockerel ratio baring in mind one or two hens will play both sides against the middle one or 2 will be popular and wanted by both cockerels but will probably not want to know one or both of them . the only girls that I'd expect to hold their own with the boys are the ex batts once their 'recharged' as they'll have had a strong in character and will to survive the sheds/cages a couple of opionated (sp)strong willed girls will soon knock a cockerel into shape Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted August 7, 2015 Share Posted August 7, 2015 The results are very dependant on the available space, but in a small run you can only have one cock Flowerpots. The underdog is trying to tread the hens by 'ambush'. So he will try to grab them and force them into a submissive position. The top cock will simply assert himself and the hens will submit as they know who is the top boy. The underdog Welsummer needs to go, as he will injure the hens in his attempts to mate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flowerpots Posted August 7, 2015 Author Share Posted August 7, 2015 Hi Folks, Many thanks for the responses. The birds are free range in the garden from about 7am tilll 6pm and they then have a very large pen/coop. After another day of bullying we decided enough was enough and the lower ranking cockerel was prepared for the pot. I have to say I wish we had done it sooner as the change in the flock is amazing. A lot less noise and all the hens are now settling well with the remaining cockerel. xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
