Cockerell seperation from flock

[Airean]

I have 4 hens right at being a year old and then 4 pullets and 4 cockerells that are 3 months old.

They have been free ranging together for almost 2 months.

1 cockerell is maturing more quickly than I am ready for. He has successfully mounted my older hens. My head hen! I was so mad as he ran after her and didn't get consent, she would have never given it. Up until today my hens would stand up or chase him away but something has now switched.

My plan all along is to separate the boys to the front yard and watch them grow as long as I can without irritating the neighbors. In the end, I'm only keeping 1 rooster if any. I want the best temperament for myself and the most gentlemanly one for his ladies.

After separation how long should I wait before bring In 1 boy every so often to interact with the girls? Or not do that at all?

What behavior do you allow the cockerells to have with the hens/pulletts? I will cull for any aggression toward me, no questions. All the cockerells I have raised always chased or dominated the girls, i dont like that. I also have never kept a cockerell for more then 6 months. Age brings maturity I know.

 

[BDutch]

The cockerel exposes his natural behaviour. He is only interested in mature hens.
If your hens free range / they can get away from the rooster its perfectly normal and acceptable that he mates the girls.

You don’t need to avoid it. You can eat the eggs just like you did before.

But within a month or maybe two, you probably have too many cockerels to keep all of them within the flock. Sometimes its no problem; if you keep a gentle breed and the cockerels are siblings. Separating them and keeping the nicest guy is fine if you have the space and want to keep one rooster.
I would try to rehome at least 2 asap.

 

[Airean]

The cockerel exposes his natural behaviour. He is only interested in mature hens.
If your hens free range / they can get away from the rooster its perfectly normal and acceptable that he mates the girls.

You don’t need to avoid it. You can eat the eggs just like you did before.

But within a month or maybe two, you probably have too many cockerels to keep all of them within the flock. Sometimes its no problem; if you keep a gentle breed and the cockerels are siblings. Separating them and keeping the nicest guy is fine if you have the space and want to keep one rooster.
I would try to rehome at least 2 asap.

I'm not worried about mating or the eggs I know its all natural. What I don't want is any cockerell chasing the hens to get what he wants. I'm not going to get a mature rooster for quite some time with these young boys I have. I want the best guy out of this bunch and for me to oversee that what is the best possible way? Unless they show early aggression toward me they are staying until I know their full personality.

 

[fluffycrow]

You cockerels will be more spontaneous and rough on the hens. Their rooster dances are sloppy. This is a hormone-driven period in their lives, where becoming the top bird and securing hens is what they're after. At this age, consent isn't something they're after. Hens can still refuse them, but it won't be peaceful