Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[islandgirl82]

Some morning photos of Ichabod and the girls. It's difficult to get clear shots of him. He loves the camera and attention so he's usually moving or he's too close, or both!








Ichabod and Amelia are never too far from each other.




Ichabod was flabbergasted by what he found in the grass this morning! (Don't mind Grace Kelly trying to steal the limelight in the foreground)
Yesterday he found a worm and picked it up, it wriggled so he dropped it, looked at it and then ran away.

 

[Leahs Mom]

What breed is your black speckled hen in the third photo?

And...enjoying reading along

 

[islandgirl82]

That's a Silver Laced Wyandotte. Another one of my favorite breeds - I love those heritage birds.

 

[islandgirl82]

Ichabod really does like to be held.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Question for you. Is Ichabod breeding the girls at this point?

 

[islandgirl82]

No, not yet. He's actually not even crowing. The woman I got him from said he'd started trying to mate with her hens and crowing but the only noise he makes is a very soft spoken chatter. I'm not sure if he's younger than she said/remembers or if he's just not feeling like he has to make his presence known other than racing the girls to get to me and then not getting out from under my feet until I've rubbed his chest. It's been a long time since I've had a cockerel and I don't remember how long it took for the last one to start crowing or mating. I've seen him try to get near them like he's thinking about making a pass at them but then hesitates and then which ever hen he's trying to get close to just walks away.

 

[Birdydeb]

That's a Silver Laced Wyandotte.  Another one of my favorite breeds - I love those heritage birds. 

My neighbors that moved out next door left two SLW hens behind and I took them in. This was the first of July, so it has been a month. Supposedly they are 3+ years old and only laid every 3 days. They were kept in a plastic covered run that was about 8 x 4 or so. They would move the run every so often to new grass. Well, I had to scurry to find a way to contain them without of course just throwing them in with mine. So....they are actually in a 10 x 10 covered dog pen in a "coop" I fashioned from a large dog crate. Evidently they feel they have "moved up" in the world because now they usually lay every day, skipping a day once in awhile and sometimes both laying on the same day. I love watching them because they seem to be so happy now, dust bathing and strutting around and looking out at the fields. They seem to be such sweet hens that I have been resistant to everyone telling me to find them somewhere else to go or cull them. Common sense says that is what I should do but when I think of their life in a plastic covered run to this point and how much they seem to be enjoying life now....I just can't do it. Even though it may be rough to integrate them into the flock and I haven't got the parallel run built yet....they are such cool little hens I am thinking I will keep them around. I feel like they put up with a lot in their life .....the neighbors started with 5 and these are the 2 survivors....that they have earned their retirement and they are still laying eggs! Said all of that to say...yeah, I have been really impressed with this breed.

 

[islandgirl82]

Quote:
I will never understand abandoning animals when people move. I do understand having to rehome but to just leave them...*sigh* I'm glad you've taken them in!

I keep all my birds until they die of natural causes (unless it's really not working out for everyone). Even my 7 yr old hen still gives me 3-4 eggs each week but I also give them the winters off though some will still lay through it and others periodically. Happy hens lay more eggs and I'm sure you'll still get a couple/few years worth of eggs out of them and the satisfaction of giving them a good home.

I will say, this is my second SLW and both have been pretty bossy with their flock mates and I think that's typical of the breed. Sweet girls, they just like to have things their way. They remind me of that stereotypical "mother hen" focused on making sure everyone does what's expected of them but neither of my SLW girls was/is top hen. Just the "hench-hen" (second in command or right around there).

Do with yours what you feel is right, not what everyone tells you you should do. If you can integrate them, great! If not, you can still decide whether you want to just keep them separate or rehome or what ever.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Regarding the SLW...
Are yours "hatchery" birds or from a breeder? Just wondering if there is any difference in personality getting them from different sources...

 

[islandgirl82]

Both SLWs came from people needing to rehome and both girls were around 2yrs old when they came here but I have no idea where either originated from. I'm sure there are differences in temperament depending on where they come from. My first was extremely people friendly and liked to be held. The new one more stand-offish with people but will eat from our hands, she just doesn't like to be touched. Both were/are very talkative which I believe is another typical breed trait and both keep/kept watch, not letting anyone into the coop when the hen one step higher in the order than they were/are is in the nesting box. They're good foragers/free rangers and will sound the alarm when there's potential danger.