Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[Sylvester017]

My mother was afraid of chickens right up until Ichabod joined the flock and she saw how we can all walk right up to him and pick him up. She thinks they're beautiful and she likes watching them but she never wanted to get very close to one. I had her hold him and once she did, she's not afraid of them anymore and doesn't mind them running up to her. I still don't think she'd voluntarily pick one up but she's at least not so uneasy around them.

As much as I love Autumn, molting season is my least favorite time for the flock. Everyone is on edge and to make it worse, only the two trouble makers, the RSLs aren't going through it or at least not like the others and they're the only girls currently laying. The head mistress and Hola are going through it the worst and though their ranks haven't changed as a result, the RSLs have become Ichabod's favorite gals and they've become brutal, particularly towards the two bearded ladies. They don't just chase them away from EVERYTHING but they're actually instigating endless spars. Ichabod breaks them up but then guards those two girls from everyone else. These two have even gone as far as blocking access or picking on the others so much that several have taken to sleeping in the nest boxes. I'm debating whether to seek out a couple of replacement girls now so he's not without at least of couple of ladies who are still laying and we're not without eggs or to just cull them and hope that his attitude towards the rest change once they're gone. *Note: he's great with all of them, doesn't pick on anyone, he just favors those two.

I know I could put them in isolation for a while until everyone else is closer to being fully feathered again but I have my doubts that their attitudes will change much once they're reintroduced. I'm interested to know what others would do in this scenario.

I agree -- Molting and brooding are a way for hens to lose status in the pecking order. I have Silkies that hide in the nestbox all day away from the hens that are good layers and never brood. After the molting or brooding have passed the Silkies rejoin the flock again and eventually things return to normal. I have gentle docile Breda that will nip at a broody or molting Silkie but she doesn't chase them but they run anyway because molting is a very unpleasant feeling for them -- they are uncomfortable and don't want to be touched or handled or picked up. It's an odd time of year for sure -- and that's why a couple years back I decided to keep only gentle docile breeds for my flock. Dual purpose and regular layer breeds are no longer in my flock. Our best docile mix are Ameraucana, Breda, and Silkies. We lost our gentle Ameraucana so I'm trying a Dom again next Spring and hope she does well in the mix as a lightweight breed addition to the flock. I've been so happy with Breda that I'm torn between getting another Breda or getting the Dom which I also like - I know! I'll get both LOL!

 

[islandgirl82]

I love these doms. They began their molting earlier than the rest and took to the ladder at night instead of the roosting bars. No one picked on them (and they don't pick on anyone else) but they weren't going through it as severely as some of the others and though they've finished feathering out, they began sleeping in the boxes once the one who passed began sleeping in them.

 

[Sylvester017]

I love these doms. They began their molting earlier than the rest and took to the ladder at night instead of the roosting bars. No one picked on them (and they don't pick on anyone else) but they weren't going through it as severely as some of the others and though they've finished feathering out, they began sleeping in the boxes once the one who passed began sleeping in them.

I let the hens pick their sleeping spot whether it's a nestbox or a perch or whatever - just so it's clean and not drafty. I supply Turkey Grow/game bird with higher protein content during molting and offer cooked or canned meat or canned cat food chunks when hens are molting or brooding -- if they need the extra protein they'll have it available plus I give the Poly-Vi-Sol no-iron liquid children's vitamin drop a couple times/weekly. It's so uncomfortable for chickens to lose feathers and the new quills are very prickly to downright painful for them. The extra supplementation replenishes much-needed body nutrition before they start an exhausting new laying cycle after molting or brooding.

Yes, I too, loved the Dom pullet we had. It was so heartbreaking for my DH to see her suffering a sudden seizure but she was gone fast TG. She was so darn cute. I average getting one new pullet once every one or two years to keep a rotation of egg laying. My old Silkies average 3 eggs/week now when not broody, my 3-yr-old Ameraucana was laying about 3/week before she passed this summer, my 11/2 yr-old Breda was laying 4-6/weekly until she passed this summer too. My new Breda juvenile won't be laying for another 2 or 3 months yet. I would love a Cackle Hatchery Dom pullet but their minimum City/Town Specials are still more chicks than I need. It's easier in rural areas but not easy to find homes for chicks in the suburbs. Unfortunately my local feed stores won't spring for the extra Marek's vaccinations for hatchery chicks. At least Cackle vaccinates their chicks. I may bite the bullet and get the 3-chick minimum from Cackle in the Spring and see if one of the feed stores will take the extra chicks from me.-- Just talked to my feed store and they will take the two extra chicks -- Yay!!!

 

[islandgirl82]

Tomorrow I'm going to see some Dominique pullets. I'll have a dozen to choose from and hope to bring home four. They've been laying for about 2 weeks now so I'll be able to remove the two RSLs from the flock and Ichabod won't be lacking in ladies over the winter.

Yesterday as I was holding Ichabod, the pup let herself into run. She wasn't the least bit interested in what I was doing but laid at my feet instead. When I set him down, he stepped toward her and put a foot on her shoulder but did nothing else. He didn't scratch at her, just rested it there for a split second before putting it back on the ground and then stood right beside her looking at her. She didn't even seem to notice and if she did she ignored it. There wasn't anything concerning about it...it just seemed like a peculiar thing to do. Maybe he was testing boundaries or her reaction?

 

[Leahs Mom]

I hope you post some photos!

 

[islandgirl82]

Of pullets? I missed the photo opp of Ichabod and the pup...

 

[Leahs Mom]

Of pullets? I missed the photo opp of Ichabod and the pup...

Yep...new pullets if you get some!

 

[aart]

Yesterday as I was holding Ichabod, the pup let herself into run. She wasn't the least bit interested in what I was doing but laid at my feet instead. When I set him down, he stepped toward her and put a foot on her shoulder but did nothing else. He didn't scratch at her, just rested it there for a split second before putting it back on the ground and then stood right beside her looking at her. She didn't even seem to notice and if she did she ignored it. There wasn't anything concerning about it...it just seemed like a peculiar thing to do. Maybe he was testing boundaries or her reaction?

Huh...Veeeerrry Interesting

 

[islandgirl82]

@Leahs Mom , I will definitely post photos if I end up getting some. They're not from the original source I was looking into so they're not the show stock but still from a breeder so I'm hoping their egg production isn't lacking like it would be of show birds.

@aart , yeah. I don't really know what to make of it. He will climb up on our laps if we're sitting out there so maybe he intended on doing the same to her but decided not to or if he was just touching her just because she was there or what. Because of her coloring, she does blend in to the soil quite well when she's laying still and part of me wonders whether they may have a difficult time seeing her clearly and maybe he reached out to touch her just to confirm she wasn't a mound of dirt. I would assume with their keen eyesight they wouldn't have any issues but I could be wrong.

 

[Sylvester017]

Tomorrow I'm going to see some Dominique pullets. I'll have a dozen to choose from and hope to bring home four. They've been laying for about 2 weeks now so I'll be able to remove the two RSLs from the flock and Ichabod won't be lacking in ladies over the winter.

Yesterday as I was holding Ichabod, the pup let herself into run. She wasn't the least bit interested in what I was doing but laid at my feet instead. When I set him down, he stepped toward her and put a foot on her shoulder but did nothing else. He didn't scratch at her, just rested it there for a split second before putting it back on the ground and then stood right beside her looking at her. She didn't even seem to notice and if she did she ignored it. There wasn't anything concerning about it...it just seemed like a peculiar thing to do. Maybe he was testing boundaries or her reaction?

I think we are all impressed with Ichabod - plus I love the name since we had a special cockerel Ichabod who was a sweetie too! You are doing it so right by having the chickens already mature while the dog is still a pup and while you're present to train. I love my chickens. I loved all the dogs I've had. But I still would be nervous to have a non-guardian breed alone with my girls. Just me because I'm a worrier -- I've trained lots of dogs/breeds and outside of a trained guardian I'd hesitate. My DD & SIL love their Pit which is a real sweetie around people but a terror around any other animal big or small (all her expensive command training is useless in that area) and are considering a guardian breed after she's gone. About time they listened to Mom LOL! Show us pics when you get the new Doms! I am just so thrilled that my feed store will take the extra City/Town Special Cackle Dom chicks next Spring! I might order the 5 minimum selection and give the store 3 chicks while I keep 2. I had no choice a couple years ago to get one remaining Dom chick at the feed store and it was miserable raising one lone 3-day-old chick. She stuck to me like glue and screamed if I left the room she was in. With 2 chicks I'm hoping they'll be better companions rather than monopolize my presence all the time. I hate raising chicks but Cackle doesn't offer POL Dom pullets yet - who knows? maybe they'll change the policy next year.