Need "Cockerel Integration" advice

[Aimless Farmer]

I have an EE cockerel, "Poppycock", hatched mid-April, that I've been trying to rehome because I already have a 3 year old EE roo, "Elvis". Poppy has been housed with his 2 EE sisters in a "nursery tractor" within our large electronetted chicken pasture.

The problem is he's now easily as big or bigger than our 7 other 2 and 3 year old EE hens, and TWICE as big as his sisters. And growing every day! He's really coming along in his "Big Boy" behaviors...crowing, showing where the yummies are, wing siddling, and MOUNTING. When he grabs a sister, they FREAK and put up quite the ruckus, and Elvis has a fit! He races over to the nursery tractor and tries to intervene, charging and yelling. At night, Poppy squeezes himself into the little house with his sisters (We built it to accomodate 3 pullets from 1 month to 4 months old only).

I'm thinking of trying to integrate him into the Big Kid coop some night when everyone's sleepy (like I do with the pullets at 4 months). I'm very afraid of what might happen. Carnage?! D'etante, and lots of learning? Will Elvis put him in his place without killing/maiming him? I have a pretty bossy hen, too, who also worries me.

Can anyone fill me in as to what I might expect? I really trying to rehome him (he's nice and very flashy looking) but dad-in-law has spoken for him for dinner if that doesn't happen. Meanwhile, I just want some peace...

 

[Judy]

You won't know til you try.

 

[onthespot]

Even though he is big he is not mature. I would not just try to "sneak him in there one night" and it's all good the next day. He will get beat up, probably killed. You can put him in the coop in a wire cage so he gets used to the sights and sounds, then after several days of that, let him out and pull out every single bully, may be four of five of them, and put THEM in the cage until he gets used to the gentler set. After you think he knows his way around pretty well, where the water, food and roosts are, and are using them normally, start letting the bullies out one by one. If one starts to pick fights, back in the hole! Try another one. Eventually you can have your flock integrated and acting right and no one gets hurt. Shouldn't take long, less than a week usually, from start to finish. Good luck.