Introduction of a cockerel

[mpmb1227]

Hi all,

I acquired an 18 week old Cuckoo Maran cockerel yesterday. This is not my first go around with a new rooster in the flock. Now, I know MANY people frown upon this, but I introduced him almost immediately. I fully understand the risks of disease and other problems that come along with not quarantining the bird to observe for a few weeks. However, I am also seasoned enough to identify most immediately noticable health issues, not to mention I ask specific questions to the folks I got him from to determine the risk of such a rapid introduction. So, I don't want to hear anyone telling me that I should not be doing it this way. That said, this time the flock is reacting quite differently than in the past. Typically, they accept new roos almost as soon as they meet. But not this one. There is one hen in particular who is not putting up with him. I'm just looking for confirmation that my suspicions are correct; that due to his young age and his lack of confidence, the hens are more hesitant to take him in. I assume that because he also does not have spurs, fully developed feathers, and has yet to crow, that the girls are uneasy or unsure about his intentions, if that makes sense. Any thoughts?

 

[Pyxis]

He's young and hasn't fully come into his hormones and so he's not acting as a full grown rooster would. Therefore, the hens aren't treating him like one and that is indeed the reason that he is having a harder time fitting into the flock. Right now, he's still acting like a pullet. So they're treating him like one.

I also just wanted to let you know that the breed name is 'marans' with the s, no matter if you're talking about one bird or twenty, not 'maran' They are named after the town of Marans, France.

 

[Pork Pie]

Agreed, and it's no bad thing to get a young cock bird - they seem to behave with more manners once they do mature, from my observations