Gutted!

[Chuckkeeper]

Absolutely gutted that my beloved light sussex (who I've nurtured through bullying and baldness!) let out an attempted crow this morning. Can hens do this? If not, any tips on quietening a cockerel? I really don't want to get rid. Will 2 cockerels be too much for 6 hens? I'm so worried about the neighbours, who are only approx 80ft away.

Thanks

 

[neo71665]

Not common but not unheard of hens crowing. Normally in a flock with no roos the dominate hen will take it up if it happens.

Need clearer pictures of the rear for saddle feathers but it sure looks like its got a roo's hackles.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

Not common but not unheard of hens crowing. Normally in a flock with no roos the dominate hen will take it up if it happens.

Need clearer pictures of the rear for saddle feathers but it sure looks like its got a roo's hackles.

Thank you. I'm so sad and worried! Do these help?

 

[neo71665]

Hard to tell and I'm far from an expert but by the hackles alone I'm sticking with a male

 

[Chicken Chicken Love]

yes 2 cockerels will be too much for 6 hens you need 10 hens per cockerel. also how old she/he

 

[Chuckkeeper]

yes 2 cockerels will be too much for 6 hens you need 10 hens per cockerel. also how old she/he

Gosh what an awful choice to have to make for which one goes. Does it make any difference that the two cockerels have been together since day 1 and one is a pekin bantam? I think the Sussex in the pic is about 14-15 weeks (but the breeder didn't know for sure) and 1.6kg

 

[Chicken Chicken Love]

Gosh what an awful choice to have to make for which one goes. Does it make any difference that the two cockerels have been together since day 1 and one is a pekin bantam? I think the Sussex in the pic is about 14-15 weeks (but the breeder didn't know for sure) and 1.6kg

im not sure

 

[The Happster]

You don't necessarily need ten per roo.
It's the space that's more the issue.
It does tend to help if they were brought up together. I'd wait and see how they go, possibly get some sexed pullets, while having a backup pen in case things get nasty.

 

[Jac Jac]

Hard to tell and I'm far from an expert but by the hackles alone I'm sticking with a male

Me too.

 

[Chuckkeeper]

You don't necessarily need ten per roo.
It's the space that's more the issue.
It does tend to help if they were brought up together. I'd wait and see how they go, possibly get some sexed pullets, while having a backup pen in case things get nasty.

Thanks. I did have 5 originally (3 pullets and now we know 2 roos). I then integrated 3 autosexed CLBs. Probably can't get any more without serious changes being required for coop size.