Cockerel vs. Hen: is it too early to tell?

[lynx04]

That's really good advice. Thank you so much for your help.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I hear tell that when a cockerel comes along, you must whip it. Into shape.

 

[lynx04]

Thanks. I put him out for a few minutes with my old girls and he and they came to an understanding right away (he learned to go AROUND them). That being said, he's still small enough for a hawk to get so I've decided to keep him with the other girls for the time being. My pale girl is starting to get her color back. In addition, she doesn't leave Divo's side now (ever since he was out with the other girls). So I'm thinking either one of two things was making her pale- the first is that she was stressed by his bad behavior (and he now has a little bit more of an understanding because of the old girls) OR I was feeding them medicated chick feed and stopped. It struck me that she might have a vitamin B deficiency.
Anyway, we still haven't decided if we're going to keep him or not. My SIL said that when she has roosters she's noticed more coyote activity. Maybe the crowing calls the coyotes? We definitely DON'T want that.

One more thing, the chick we call "sister" because she Divo's best friend, seems to be responding to his antics in kind. She doesn't look like a cockerel to me, but would a pullet do the same thing?

 

[LaFleche]

So his adventure with the mature ladies mellowed him somewhat.

Regarding the pale pullet: what does her poop look like, could you post a picture?

In any case you might add some vitamins to their water for 2-3 days but be careful not to overdose.

Your SIL might have a point there, the crowing sound might very well not only be noticed and answered by other roosters in the distance but attract coyotes as well.
Craig's list or a notice at the food store bulletin board might help to find him a new home.

"One more thing, the chick we call "sister" because she Divo's best friend, seems to be responding to his antics in kind. She doesn't look like a cockerel to me, but would a pullet do the same thing?"

Some of these antics are not only mating preliminaries but also an expression of dominance. So yes, pullets can be quite dominant too ranking high in the pecking order.

 

[lynx04]

Thanks. The feed store I got him from said they will take him back. I'm going to keep him for a little while longer. The other chicks seem to be lost without him when I take him away from them.
As for her poops, they seem to be a little runny and maybe a caramel color- but then all of my chicks seem to have had that at one time or another. I'll try to get a picture.
You've been such a big help. Thank you so much.

 

[LaFleche]

As for her poops, they seem to be a little runny and maybe a caramel color- but then all of my chicks seem to have had that at one time or another.

Runny poops can have different causes, you might try some Moro's carrot soup. This helps a lot with balancing digestive disorders:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/need-help-with-gut-flora.1372260/post-22571912