SweetieChicken234
Chirping
- Jun 9, 2023
- 69
- 114
- 71
So I raised 2 brown leghorn brothers together. Just the 2 of them. They have always been joined at the wing. Inseparable. They are good boys truly. I've held them constantly as chicks, loved them nonstop. By 10 weeks old I put them in with my older hens and stopped spending so much time with them so they could be big boys and function as a flock. All was going well, no problems and I was so happy. Just recently the alpha has been running the beta cockerel away. I didn't know why. I've spent some time locking the beta in the run by himself and only allowing the alpha and flock into the coop. They basically free range with coop access but no run access. I tried letting the beta out several times and the result is the same. Alpha chases beta away. I have been observing them all closely and have found a few things.
Beta mates with hens- alpha doesn't care that he does this. He runs over and watches but does not peck, harm or otherwise stop the beta mating hens.
Alpha cornered beta cockerel in the coop and I feared the worst but again, alpha was on his back but no blood or harm.
Alpha takes his job seriously and when he hears a hen upset he runs to see what is going on.
Neither cockerel is aggressive. Neither is aggressive to me and not to each other. Beta is a good beta cockerel. He is submissive and doesn't fight. He only runs away from his brother.
I have found the problem. Beta cockerel was locked up in the run and the second I opened the door he was mating the first hen near him. Then off to the next hen and was mating as many hens as he could get until his brother heard the fuss and chases him off. So it seems beta cockerel has raging hormones and can't seem to control it. Alpha hears the fuss he's causing the hens and he's trying to keep the peace in the flock and chase off his brother. I understand that beta can't help it. This is normal..
I am so sad but trying to find beta a home. He is not a bad boy but I don't have space to give him his own flock. I did get more pullets because I knew 2 boys would need more hens. Unfortunately my luck is bad. I bought 10 chicks, 4 turned into cockerels. Some of my sexed pullets turned into males. I am down to only 5 pullets to add to the flock. They are only 8 weeks old and too young to help in this situation.
Providing I can't find a home for my beta will this work out long term to keep him with the flock after his hormones settle? How long is it normally until the hormones calm down a bit? I can't eat this bird. I love the bird. I am going to eat my other cockerels but not my beta.
This is rough keeping him by himself in the run and I am out supervising when I let him back with the flock. I don't want him to get hurt or chased out of the yard again. It took hours to catch him last time when his brother chased him so bad he flew away.
Is there any light at the end of this tunnel? I think my alpha is on track to become an excellent rooster with age. He is a true peace keeper and non aggressive. I would love for his brother to stay in this flock if he can settle the hormones. Finding a home is no easy task.
Beta mates with hens- alpha doesn't care that he does this. He runs over and watches but does not peck, harm or otherwise stop the beta mating hens.
Alpha cornered beta cockerel in the coop and I feared the worst but again, alpha was on his back but no blood or harm.
Alpha takes his job seriously and when he hears a hen upset he runs to see what is going on.
Neither cockerel is aggressive. Neither is aggressive to me and not to each other. Beta is a good beta cockerel. He is submissive and doesn't fight. He only runs away from his brother.
I have found the problem. Beta cockerel was locked up in the run and the second I opened the door he was mating the first hen near him. Then off to the next hen and was mating as many hens as he could get until his brother heard the fuss and chases him off. So it seems beta cockerel has raging hormones and can't seem to control it. Alpha hears the fuss he's causing the hens and he's trying to keep the peace in the flock and chase off his brother. I understand that beta can't help it. This is normal..
I am so sad but trying to find beta a home. He is not a bad boy but I don't have space to give him his own flock. I did get more pullets because I knew 2 boys would need more hens. Unfortunately my luck is bad. I bought 10 chicks, 4 turned into cockerels. Some of my sexed pullets turned into males. I am down to only 5 pullets to add to the flock. They are only 8 weeks old and too young to help in this situation.
Providing I can't find a home for my beta will this work out long term to keep him with the flock after his hormones settle? How long is it normally until the hormones calm down a bit? I can't eat this bird. I love the bird. I am going to eat my other cockerels but not my beta.
This is rough keeping him by himself in the run and I am out supervising when I let him back with the flock. I don't want him to get hurt or chased out of the yard again. It took hours to catch him last time when his brother chased him so bad he flew away.
Is there any light at the end of this tunnel? I think my alpha is on track to become an excellent rooster with age. He is a true peace keeper and non aggressive. I would love for his brother to stay in this flock if he can settle the hormones. Finding a home is no easy task.