Hens picking on young cockerel

[aart]

What is your goal for this young male?
How old are the hens?

 

[Compost King]

I read that Shamos take a very long time to mature. If so he isn't going to be dominate or quite some time but when he is he ought to be the lead rooster of any mixed flock. However what I read and what is are not always the same thing. I would say give him time. He could be a year old before he fully matures and realizes he can stomp those old hags.

 

[ShannonR]

I'm thinking about taking him out and completely isolating him from the rest of the chickens. I think leaving him in there being bossed around is not good for his manhood, I want him to grow up tough. I think a few months of isolation shall bring out that fighter gene in him!

When I raised Shamo I had the same issue. I have seen more than one cockerel killed by older hag hens. They're brutal. I, too, would wait a few more months and reintroduce when he is more willing and able to assert himself. With that said though, the hens will still need to "accept" him, or they may never let him breed with them, even if they spare his life.

 

[Compost King]

oh wow, glad I do not have any serious game birds.

 

[aart]

older hag hens.

How old is a 'hag' hen?
Is 'hag' a special game bird notation....
...or just a thoughtlessly used disparaging term for an older female??

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

They aren't actually old, I just like to call them that. Anyway, my plan is to get some offsprings off of this Shamo, I was told his dad is a hefty 13 lbs so I plan to breed him possibly with one of the oriental gamefowl hens I currently have or maybe look into getting another bigger Shamo breed hen to breed with instead so that I can get giants! Woo-hoo!

 

[Compost King]

If I had a Shamo male I would cross him with my meat bird hens just to see what it would make. I read Shamo meat is tough but if we could speed up development with a meat bird it might not be that way in the offspring. I doubt i ever get gamecocks though, other than the ornamental OEG Bantams that come in bantam assortments. Too much trouble. How much meaty do Shamos get?