Hi,
I have an existing flock of 5 older hens (3 reds, an ameraucana, and a buff orpington). In early April, I ordered and received 5 cuckoo maran female chicks and one salmon faverolle male chick. They moved out from the brooder to a temporary coop fenced off in the same run with the big girls. This week, I opened the gate, and they've been mingling peacefully, though they definitely keep to their own areas, especially the adolescents. I plan on adding the 6 newbies to the big coop one evening this week (if they don't move by choice). In the meantime, since mid May, I've been brooding 6 more pullets (white plymouth rocks). As soon as the adolescents are out of the temporary coop, the white rocks will take their places.
My main concern is my cockerel. He's a very meek salmon faverolle, and he is still quite a bit smaller than the cuckoo maran females. The cuckoos are gregarious, brave, and curious. They steer clear of the big girls, but I can tell that they're going to be fine. The cockerel worries me because I am afraid he's going to get beat up when I move him to the big coop. I'm sure, once puberty kicks in, he'll change dramatically, but right now, he hides most of the time when the old hens are around, and he's already gotten a couple of big pecks from our nastiest rhode island red. So my question is, would it be possible to combine the white rocks with him in the temporary coop while he grows a bit more or will he hurt the smaller pullets, meek as he is right now? If I go ahead and move him out to the big coop with the marans, when the white rocks are big enough to join the rest of the flock, will the cockerel pose a danger to them? I hope those questions make sense. Thanks in advance.
I have an existing flock of 5 older hens (3 reds, an ameraucana, and a buff orpington). In early April, I ordered and received 5 cuckoo maran female chicks and one salmon faverolle male chick. They moved out from the brooder to a temporary coop fenced off in the same run with the big girls. This week, I opened the gate, and they've been mingling peacefully, though they definitely keep to their own areas, especially the adolescents. I plan on adding the 6 newbies to the big coop one evening this week (if they don't move by choice). In the meantime, since mid May, I've been brooding 6 more pullets (white plymouth rocks). As soon as the adolescents are out of the temporary coop, the white rocks will take their places.
My main concern is my cockerel. He's a very meek salmon faverolle, and he is still quite a bit smaller than the cuckoo maran females. The cuckoos are gregarious, brave, and curious. They steer clear of the big girls, but I can tell that they're going to be fine. The cockerel worries me because I am afraid he's going to get beat up when I move him to the big coop. I'm sure, once puberty kicks in, he'll change dramatically, but right now, he hides most of the time when the old hens are around, and he's already gotten a couple of big pecks from our nastiest rhode island red. So my question is, would it be possible to combine the white rocks with him in the temporary coop while he grows a bit more or will he hurt the smaller pullets, meek as he is right now? If I go ahead and move him out to the big coop with the marans, when the white rocks are big enough to join the rest of the flock, will the cockerel pose a danger to them? I hope those questions make sense. Thanks in advance.