- Jan 14, 2008
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Ok, a question for all you old timers. I have a pen of 9 cockerels all housed together while I am letting them grow out a little more, they were hatched March 31st, so are not quite 5 months old. A couple of the birds hold their tails low. Is that due to pecking order issues, or is that a cullable trait? I haven't seen cockerels do this before, but then I've never kept a pen of so many for so long. They sleep overnight in a hoop house, and range in electric poultry netting during the day.
If this is a cullable trait, I will certainly go for it. But one of them in particular is a lovely bird in every other way but this, and if I should ignore it, I'd like to know.
I am considering putting him up in a separate tractor just to see what would happen, but don't want to take him out of the range pen if I don't have to. TIA for advice on this one.
Hate to have to think of myself as an old timer but the calendar doesn't lie. My advice on the bird in question would be keep him a little longer to see what happens as long as you can spare the room he's taking up.
Haven't ever raised Buckeyes but have known Reds to carry their tails low 'till they matured.