Molting question

[Brabra]

I have poulets that are laying and cockerels of the same age. Then I have a few girls that are over a year old. I was concerned will the cockerels still try to mate with the older girls when they start molting? I’m afraid for their backs

 

[nuthatched]

It's not really a problem. You can get them saddles if you want

 

[aart]

I wouldn't recommend saddles during molt, they need to be able to preen the new feathers coming in and the saddles could press on new pin feathers making them even more uncomfortable then they already are.

How many hens and cockerels do you have?
I assume the cockerels are about 6 months old?
If they are 'good' cockerels they won't mate a non laying hen.

 

[Brabra]

I wouldn't recommend saddles during molt, they need to be able to preen the new feathers coming in and the saddles could press on new pin feathers making them even more uncomfortable then they already are.

How many hens and cockerels do you have?
I assume the cockerels are about 6 months old?
If they are 'good' cockerels they won't mate a non laying hen.

Yes the 2 cockerels are 6 months and I have 12 girls. Only 4 are over a year old so I assume the only ones to go through a molt. And then I have 6 more girls but they are only 10 weeks. Only one girl seems to have any mating damage. So I just put a saddle on her, but good to know when they start molting I’ll take it off and I guess if my cockerel are rude buts to those girls I can separate them. Thank you!

 

[aart]

Yes the 2 cockerels are 6 months and I have 12 girls. Only 4 are over a year old so I assume the only ones to go through a molt. And then I have 6 more girls but they are only 10 weeks. Only one girl seems to have any mating damage. So I just put a saddle on her, but good to know when they start molting I’ll take it off and I guess if my cockerel are rude buts to those girls I can separate them. Thank you!

4 + 6 = 10 not 12.....but even 12 are too few for 2 males IMO.
Might be good to get rid of one of the males to remove the competition aspect from your flock..

 

[Brabra]

4 + 6 = 10 not 12.....but even 12 are too few for 2 males IMO.
Might be good to get rid of one of the males to remove the competition aspect from your flock..

Sorry 7-6 month old pullets, 5- over 1 year hens, 6- 10 weeks old pullets

2- 6 month old cockerels


That should be a total of 20 live bodies….but I really am bad at math