Maturing cockerel-how long to keep separated?

[Elizabethwood09]

I have a well integrated flock of 10 chickens; one 16 wk old NHR cockerel, three 16 wk old NHR pullets (the cockerels brooder mates), three 10 wk old SS mix pullets and three 7 week old BR pullets. They have a large coop and yard and plenty of places to hide and play. So far there has been normal pecking order behaviors between all the pullets that I monitor closely and all seem to be well and adjusting normally. The cockerel (non-human aggressive) gets along well with his age mates and has been ignoring the littles unless they get a little too close when he's eating, but he'll give them a peck and they run away, he has not given chase. I read a lot on cockerel puberty so I have been looking for any aggressive behaviors from him. I did notice that he was being sort of a jerk to his girls ( the older NHR pullets) but was mostly just grabbing out a few feathers here or there, not consistent asshole behavior so I was gonna let nature continue. HOWEVER, starting 2 mornings ago he has started to chase/sneak up on the younger pullets and he has grabbed a few and gotten a few clumps of feathers. They have not been hurt but just running to hide whenever he comes near, again there are no crowding issues at all. I made the decision this morning to seperate him because while I think the older pullets will be ok, I can't take a chance with the younger ones. My questions are #1. How long should I keep him separated from the others, and should it be a full lockdown, as in he will be in his own small coop/run 24/7 not be allowed back into the main coop until I can be sure he will not be overly aggressive? #2 How long does a cockerels hormone rage stage usually last? 3# When the NHR pullets are ready for him to mate, will he leave the younger pullets alone or do I need to un-integrate the flock (flock 1- 4 NHR and flock 2 - 6 younger pullets) until the younger pullets are more mature? Thank you for any and all help and anything else that I did not think of please feel free to mention.

 

[Mrs. K]

It depends...but I am going to be trying a similar situation. I have two separate areas already to go, and I am going to not let a rooster back in the coop until all my pullets are laying. However, none of my birds are laying at this time. (major do over, but have had a flock for decades).

I have three age groups, the oldest should be laying by August, the middle group a couple of weeks later, and then 2-3 weeks later, the youngest. So 8 weeks difference from the first to the last. Roosters are in the middle group, multiple roosters, my niece has them nearby, currently in with flock mates. When they start being jerks, we will pull them and put them in a bachelor set up and wait until all are laying.

Mrs K
(I will be interested in seeing what others post) I generally raise up a rooster as a chicks in the flock, culling as I go, but with older mature laying hens, and often a mature rooster. Totally different society and culture than just juvenile birds alone)

 

[Elizabethwood09]

It depends...but I am going to be trying a similar situation. I have two separate areas already to go, and I am going to not let a rooster back in the coop until all my pullets are laying. However, none of my birds are laying at this time. (major do over, but have had a flock for decades).

I have three age groups, the oldest should be laying by August, the middle group a couple of weeks later, and then 2-3 weeks later, the youngest. So 8 weeks difference from the first to the last. Roosters are in the middle group, multiple roosters, my niece has them nearby, currently in with flock mates. When they start being jerks, we will pull them and put them in a bachelor set up and wait until all are laying.

Mrs K
(I will be interested in seeing what others post) I generally raise up a rooster as a chicks in the flock, culling as I go, but with older mature laying hens, and often a mature rooster. Totally different society and culture than just juvenile birds alone)

Thank you. So far he has been a good boy, and I believe the 3 older girls are very close to laying but I just don't want to put the younger ones in any danger. Luckily if I need to separate flocks I have the room to do so, it would just take some readjusting. It had all been going so well too but I guess nothing can ever be that simple lol.

 

[Mrs. K]

The thing with cockerels is that they start with the most vulnerable, the smallest first, and can aggressively work their way up.

Another option is to make sure that the smaller girls have a one way gate, a good size place, readily accessible from multiple sides that they can escape to, that he can't follow. I have had good luck with a pallet set up on a single layer of cement blocks. I often feed under there for one of my feed spots. With multi-ages in the flock, I generally feed in several spots.

Good luck,

Mrs K