Best age to introduce cockerel?

[Goatm0m]

I think the 3 chicks in my pen are all pullets Hatched 7/5/22. There are 3 cockerels I could introduce along with their pullet buddies (Free rangers from next door).

One is about 12 weeks, the other two are approx 9 weeks. Could they be introduced to the 6wk old pullets without a problem? Or do they need one that is younger?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I wouldn't introduce the cockerels to 6 week old pullets. They will be bullies and will always out pace the pullets in age, meaning these demure little pullets will have to endure their teenage raging hormones while the pullets are not ready to mate.

I'd put them in a bachelor pad, or seriously consider culling several. You don't need a bunch of cockerels in a flock. Most times it invites trouble.

The best way to introduce a cockerel is to an established mature flock of hens who promptly put the young cockerel in his place putting the "fear of God" in his heart. He must learn to swoon and dance to mate rather than grab and bully.

So I'd belay that thought and rethink integration with the young pullets altogether (if you are talking about just these 2 separate flocks...cockerels and young pullets).

My 2 cents
LofMc

 

[Perris]

Could they be introduced to the 6wk old pullets without a problem?

No

Or do they need one that is younger?

Yes

I second what LofM said. You want your first cockerel to be trained by (a) mature hen(s), so let your pullets grow up and start laying before you return to the issue of a roo for them. If your birds and your neighbours' birds can see each other through the fence, that will help with integration in the future, but they will all get along much better and with fewer tears if you wait till they are all older, sexually mature adult birds. You could also watch what happens within the neighbour's flock which has pullets and cockerels together.

 

[Goatm0m]

Gotcha. That makes sense. What about the pullets that are the same age as the cockerels? Would they bully the younger pullets as well?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Gotcha. That makes sense. What about the pullets that are the same age as the cockerels? Would they bully the younger pullets as well?

Yes. Males maturing with young females bully them when hormones hit. The girls are still too young to know how to put them in their place. At most a single male maturing with a bunch of girls may get enough hazing to be a gentleman. Best is a young cockerel with mature hens to train him.

Why do you want to integrate your neighbor's cockerels?

 

[Mrs. K]

AND not all three at anytime. You do not want 3 cockerels unless you have a multi-generational flock with about 30 head +/-. Roosters take a lot of space, way more space than hens.

And while I am not big on perfect numbers, you definitely need a lot more hens than cockerels or roosters. If this is your first year, just keep the pullets until you get them grown and laying.

Cockerels often times also attack people, especially small children and women. People that are inexperienced, vastly underestimate how violent that attack may be. Children can take it in the face.

Mrs K