Introducing young cockerals (5wks old) to hens (12wks old)

[Stumpysue]

Hi I have a 12wk old & an 8wk old pullet and the last batch of 3 hatchlings produced by the look of them 2 cockerels and 1 hen. I tried to introduce them to each other but the two 5wk old cockerals squared up to the two older hens and we had to separate them and put the cockerels back in their pen. We have put the 5wk old hen in with the older ones and they are just fine. What can I do about the two cockerels if they continue to be aggressive towards the others. They are not fighting each other at the moment. Any help appreciated. Thanks.x

 

[keesmom]

What are your long term plans for them?

 

[Stumpysue]

I already have a fully grown rooster, the 2 young cockerels are a result of eggs that i had in my incubator. I would really like to keep them but don't know if this would be feasible.

 

[keesmom]

How many pullets and hens do you have? What are the dimensions of their coop and run?

You could keep them in a bachelor pad if you can't part with them.

 

[gpresdo]

Hi I have a 12wk old & an 8wk old pullet and the last batch of 3 hatchlings produced by the look of them 2 cockerels and 1 hen. I tried to introduce them to each other but the two 5wk old cockerals squared up to the two older hens and we had to separate them and put the cockerels back in their pen. We have put the 5wk old hen in with the older ones and they are just fine. What can I do about the two cockerels if they continue to be aggressive towards the others. They are not fighting each other at the moment. Any help appreciated. Thanks.x

If you need to run multiple roosters then we must let nature determine the pecking order. They haven't failed yet.
NOTE; we raise Black as well as Blue Australorps, a low keyed bird but, they still must decide ......who is the boss. Yes we see blood once in a while. No deaths ....yet.

 

[Mrs. K]

A huge amount depends on your set up, number of birds you have and the space you have them in. For myself, I would not want to have 3 roosters unless I had close to 50 hens and probably more important, the SPACE for 50 hens.

Keeping all the roosters is a romantic notion that seldom works for small flocks. I would vote not feasible.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

If you need to run multiple roosters then we must let nature determine the pecking order. They haven't failed yet.
NOTE; we raise Black as well as Blue Australorps, a low keyed bird but, they still must decide ......who is the boss. Yes we see blood once in a while. No deaths ....yet.

Would be good @gpresdo to hear more about how much space(coop/run/pasture in feet by feet) you have and what your goals are for keeping multiple males and how many females you keep.

 

[gpresdo]

Would be good @gpresdo to hear more about how much space(coop/run/pasture in feet by feet) you have and what your goals are for keeping multiple males and how many females you keep.

Usually we run breeding pens of 10 hens and one rooster/or twenty and two roosters. If we run young roosters......under 1 year of age......for special occasions of genetic inclusions to a given flock DNA base., we reduce his hens down too 8. Young roosters can perform but their semen production is wanting and that is a problem.

Their covered coop space is around 10' x 10' size and their free range space consists of about 1/2 acre of grass. Some are sectioned bldg's and some are individual small out buildings.
We have several of these in our breeding and hatching arrangements.

The new little guys start out in groups of 25 in 100 gallon size Rubbermaid tubs. After 7 days they graduate into a larger fenced area within a bldg. providing increasing space with growth. When they start running they need bigger.

Our birds are only sold at 4 months, the age when we can clearly see genetic confirmation. We cull heavy...around 15%....maintaining the best show quality birds.

We sell fertile hatching eggs at any time. (except we are currently behind in blues).

We have 63 breeding hens and 269 youngins at various stages of growth....oldest 3 months and the youngest at 4 days. The 112 and 56 count incubators are full and currently running.

We do not mix breeds and keep the pure blood breeding hens.... and progeny of each breed ....separated during their life here.

LOL...as I am writing this I am reflecting back on the original ..."hobby".... plan of a ...few....seems I have not stuck to the plan.

 

[aart]

and their free range space consists of about 1/2 acre of grass.

Fenced well enough to keep them in their own harems?

 

[Mrs. K]

That is exactly my point, in an operation (not a backyard flock) there is a LOT OF SPACE, a lot of birds, and a lot of culling.

Entirely different society of chickens, than in a elevated coop of 4x5, with a small pen attached. Rooster are going to be much more difficult in that set up, than in gpresdo s set up.