Integrating a cockerel into a flock of mature hens

[Birdydeb]

I think his name suits him very well. Love his name! Too funny about the worm. I watched one of my roosters do the very same thing. Though it was a couple months ago when they first got outside. Cracked me up. However the first night they were let loose in their run, they ALL (roosters included) had a blast destroying,eating and fighting over a tree frog. It incited the crazy game of chase and steal away and didn't end until Mr. Tree Frog was no more. LOL

 

[islandgirl82]

That's too funny, I do always feel bad for the frogs and salamanders though. We don't have very many around so when I find them, I do my best to hide them from the flock. They are very helpful when it comes to the rodents though - especially cleaning up those that the cat gifts to me.

Ichabod didn't have much, if any free ranging time prior to his move here so he does seem a little behind in his reactions to new things than those who have done plenty of it. He is catching on though. The worm incident happened during one of his first days here. The cat doesn't give the chickens much opportunity to get near her. She was pecked in the nose by a week old chick a few years ago and hasn't wanted anything to do with them since so he hasn't seen much of her.

 

[aart]

They are almost all 'chicken' about anything 'new'......it cracks me up.
But, man, once one of them gets over it, they all join in and the race is on.

 

[Birdydeb]

I wish I had taken a video of the first time I threw frozen corn on the cob out into the run. It reminded me of a "Mikey" commercial. It was one of our first 90+ days and as young pullets and cockerels they really seemed to be struggling to adapt so brilliant me decided to toss partially frozen corn on the cob into the run. They ALL came running... and they ALL came to a screeching halt and gathered in a circle around the corn just looking at it and "grumbling". I swear I almost wet my pants from laughing. You could almost "hear" what they were thinking....what is that...can we eat it...I'm not gonna eat it, you eat it, etc. It was so funny that even though the day was hot I pulled up a lawn chair in the shade and watched. They kept circling and circling. Finally one of the cockerels gave it a quick peck and jumped back. Then in a few minutes another tried it. This went on for almost an hour until finally they decided it wouldn't eat them that in fact it was very good for them to eat! Now of course when I throw out any freezer burned corn on a hot day....they make a beeline for it. LOL

Eta: ducks are even funnier than chickens when they experience new things...if that is even possible. LOL

 

[winkyfaye]

What a sweet story. Hope they all have long, happy time together. Thanks for sharing.

 

[speckledhen]

I wish I had taken a video of the first time I threw frozen corn on the cob out into the run. It reminded me of a "Mikey" commercial. It was one of our first 90+ days and as young pullets and cockerels they really seemed to be struggling to adapt so brilliant me decided to toss partially frozen corn on the cob into the run. They ALL came running... and they ALL came to a screeching halt and gathered in a circle around the corn just looking at it and "grumbling". I swear I almost wet my pants from laughing.

You could almost "hear" what they were thinking....what is that...can we eat it...I'm not gonna eat it, you eat it, etc. It was so funny that even though the day was hot I pulled up a lawn chair in the shade and watched. They kept circling and circling. Finally one of the cockerels gave it a quick peck and jumped back. Then in a few minutes another tried it. This went on for almost an hour until finally they decided it wouldn't eat them that in fact it was very good for them to eat! Now of course when I throw out any freezer burned corn on a hot day....they make a beeline for it. LOL

Eta: ducks are even funnier than chickens when they experience new things...if that is even possible. LOL

PERFECT description! I remember Mikey, too. They are exactly like that with new things, exactly!

 

[islandgirl82]

What a sweet story. Hope they all have long, happy time together. Thanks for sharing.

Me too. I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for reading!

 

[islandgirl82]

Though still very friendly, yesterday was the first day I didn't hold Ichabod. Whenever I'd reach for him, he'd move away and had a much greater interest in cozying up to the nearest hen. From what I did see, all his advances were rejected but like a gentleman, he let the girls go when they made that funny noise that sounds to me like somewhat of a honk and would try to get close to another hen.

I also heard a noise that sounded like something between a fog horn and a cow mooing. I think that was Ichabod's attempt at crowing as we don't have cows anywhere near this neighborhood (although I'm told there's one who lives somewhere across the cove) and it was nothing but clear blue skies so no fog horns were sounding. When I went to the window to try to catch him in the act, they all saw me and came rushing towards the cottage so if he was trying out his voice, I unfortunately distracted him.

As I was cleaning the catch board this morning and the flock was in the run having their mid-morning snack, I witnessed the last thing I ever expected to see. Head Mistress Mairah and Ichabod were mating. No chasing or silly dance moves, no clumsy balancing act, no hen fussing or feather pulling. One might think he'd been doing this for years. When they were finished, she raised her hackles about halfway and he stretched to stand a little taller, then they walked over and shared a dish. When he would leave to investigate another dish, she would follow. What a tremendous and shockingly peaceful difference in her experience between Russell and Ichabod.

So far, he has no interest in visiting with me today and it's a little bittersweet. His treatment of the girls makes me alright with that. He had no issues with me cleaning up the coop or going into the run with half the girls as he was exiting. We have what I believe, is a mutual respect. This is excellent.

 

[aart]

Abso-Lutely Excellent!!

Glad to hear he cut off the holding.....am always leery about 'familiarity can breed contempt' when it comes to male livestock.
Will be so interesting to see/hear about how it all progresses.

 

[speckledhen]

Though still very friendly, yesterday was the first day I didn't hold Ichabod. Whenever I'd reach for him, he'd move away and had a much greater interest in cozying up to the nearest hen. From what I did see, all his advances were rejected but like a gentleman, he let the girls go when they made that funny noise that sounds to me like somewhat of a honk and would try to get close to another hen.

I also heard a noise that sounded like something between a fog horn and a cow mooing. I think that was Ichabod's attempt at crowing as we don't have cows anywhere near this neighborhood (although I'm told there's one who lives somewhere across the cove) and it was nothing but clear blue skies so no fog horns were sounding. When I went to the window to try to catch him in the act, they all saw me and came rushing towards the cottage so if he was trying out his voice, I unfortunately distracted him.

As I was cleaning the catch board this morning and the flock was in the run having their mid-morning snack, I witnessed the last thing I ever expected to see. Head Mistress Mairah and Ichabod were mating. No chasing or silly dance moves, no clumsy balancing act, no hen fussing or feather pulling. One might think he'd been doing this for years. When they were finished, she raised her hackles about halfway and he stretched to stand a little taller, then they walked over and shared a dish. When he would leave to investigate another dish, she would follow. What a tremendous and shockingly peaceful difference in her experience between Russell and Ichabod.

So far, he has no interest in visiting with me today and it's a little bittersweet. His treatment of the girls makes me alright with that. He had no issues with me cleaning up the coop or going into the run with half the girls as he was exiting. We have what I believe, is a mutual respect. This is excellent.

Wonderful! This is why I tell folks that when the cockerel's hormones have kicked in, especially, they need to back away from their "baby" and let him be the flock protector he was meant to be without distraction. Mutual respect is excellent.

I never expect a cuddly rooster, just a non-aggressive one towards us. Atlas is as friendly as they come, but I never pick him up unless I must check on something to do with his health or break up a fight where I feel he or the other one will be truly hurt or if he's hurting a hen by having her in a very bad position for breeding (smashed against a tree/wall, etc). I've plucked him right off a hen who was struggling and screaming because he had her in some awkward mating position or a weaker hen who didn't need such an enthusiastic male jumping her. He doesn't turn on me or even nip me when I do it. He will follow me and come most of the time when I call him, eat out of my hand (he insists, sometimes) and let me pick him up with only a half-hearted initial struggle. Yes, mutual respect is the perfect situation to have with a rooster.