Omg I thought she was dead..unusual mating behavior?

[McChooky]

That’s a terrible story! I’m sad now. I definitely keep an eye on Gomez, especially Morticia. Hopefully he just sticks with his big gals. At least until Morticia grows up and has interest.

I added 2 cockerels after waiting 3 yrs. I'm hoping this last one works out...

 

[z3lda3]

I added 2 cockerels after waiting 3 yrs. I'm hoping this last one works out...

Fingers crossed! Keep me updated

 

[z3lda3]

It's a gift.....






Or a curse.
How many roosters to you have? Just Gomez?

This is Fred, I took this pic this evening. He’s on an old swing set, we were going to take it down but the chickens love it. He’s actually crowing here

 

[z3lda3]

@wrathsfarm your not the only one with yard candy lol.
Things are working really well! Knock on wood. Here’s Gomez with his flock of big girls. All 4 have taken a fancy to him. (Also for size reference that weed in front on Gomez is about 4 inches tall).

 

[wrathsfarm]

@wrathsfarm your not the only one with yard candy lol.
Things are working really well! Knock on wood. Here’s Gomez with his flock of big girls. All 4 have taken a fancy to him. (Also for size reference that weed in front on Gomez is about 4 inches tall).

He's gorgeous....

And that's great to hear. I'm glad he's turning out to be a good boy for ya...

 

[z3lda3]

He's gorgeous....

And that's great to hear. I'm glad he's turning out to be a good boy for ya...

Me too! I’ve come to the conclusion the issues were entirely my fault. I had him with pullets way too young for him (I didn’t know any better
But now the older gals have became his little flock, he’s great. The gals squat for him, if if one isn’t interested he just walks off “you’re letting this opportunity pass you by??”
He is sleeping in the big gals coop now…on their own accord. Once my smaller girls are older do you think Gomez may integrate them into the bigger coop too? Or did he just abandon the littles?

 

[wrathsfarm]

Me too! I’ve come to the conclusion the issues were entirely my fault. I had him with pullets way too young for him (I didn’t know any better
But now the older gals have became his little flock, he’s great. The gals squat for him, if if one isn’t interested he just walks off “you’re letting this opportunity pass you by??”
He is sleeping in the big gals coop now…on their own accord. Once my smaller girls are older do you think Gomez may integrate them into the bigger coop too? Or did he just abandon the littles?

He'll get them to join into one flock. As of now your probably seeing 2 flocks as in the pullets are in they're own sub-flock at the moment. If you've got them separated from your cockerel and hens but a see no touch setup, that's good.
When they get close to laying, combs redding up. You'll notice them either squatting for you or squatting for him along the fence. You could let them start free ranging together at this time or you could wait until the last pullet is laying. (I've done both ways depending on the roo harassment). Just keep a watch out for him to make sure he doesn't get relentless chasing and overpowering them. But by this time they should submit.

Then just wait and watch and they'll start following him in to his coop one for a few nights. They'll be some squabbling and chasing between the hens and pullets for roost spots, they're establishing the pecking order. Don't intervene unless it gets bloody and brutal, let them work it out. They are integrating.

After this you'll still probably notice the 2 groups still for quite some time. But once they get the pecking order established, roost time should start settling down.

Added fyi... Your guy is the flock leader. In my experience, my roosters will break up all out fights but won't interfere in the pecking order drama.

 

[z3lda3]

He'll get them to join into one flock. As of now your probably seeing 2 flocks as in the pullets are in they're own sub-flock at the moment. If you've got them separated from your cockerel and hens but a see no touch setup, that's good.
When they get close to laying, combs redding up. You'll notice them either squatting for you or squatting for him along the fence. You could let them start free ranging together at this time or you could wait until the last pullet is laying. (I've done both ways depending on the roo harassment). Just keep a watch out for him to make sure he doesn't get relentless chasing and overpowering them. But by this time they should submit.

Then just wait and watch and they'll start following him in to his coop one for a few nights. They'll be some squabbling and chasing between the hens and pullets for roost spots, they're establishing the pecking order. Don't intervene unless it gets bloody and brutal, let them work it out. They are integrating.

After this you'll still probably notice the 2 groups still for quite some time. But once they get the pecking order established, roost time should start settling down.

Added fyi... Your guy is the flock leader. In my experience, my roosters will break up all out fights but won't interfere in the pecking order drama.

Thank you!! So basically if they’re all safe-let the chickens chicken? Yes I’ve got the littles separated from the big gals by chicken wire, nothing fancy, while they’re in the yard. They see each other but not harm. During the evenings I roll up the chicken wire and let them mingle supervised. It’s interesting the big gals tend to stay on one side and the littles on the other and Gomez is dead center like a sentinel. Roosters (NOT hormonal cockerels) really seem to know the whole chicken dynamics. Thank you so much for the help!

 

[wrathsfarm]

How old is Fred and how old are the pullets?

Where is he at?

He's gonna either challenge Gomez for Alpha status or be content in his position. Have a plan in place if it goes sideways. It may get bloody.

Some keep multiple roos with no problems in one flock. I haven't been there. Hence the reason I have 2 flocks, completely separate and I alternate free range time. An extra coop and run is always a bonu to have in case you need to isolate.
I have 3 coops and 5 runs at the moment. I can put any group, or broodys with new babies or separate my cockerel grow-outs at will.
Super handy for all these eggs I'm hatching this year.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Thank you!! So basically if they’re all safe-let the chickens chicken? Yes I’ve got the littles separated from the big gals by chicken wire, nothing fancy, while they’re in the yard. They see each other but not harm. During the evenings I roll up the chicken wire and let them mingle supervised. It’s interesting the big gals tend to stay on one side and the littles on the other and Gomez is dead center like a sentinel. Roosters (NOT hormonal cockerels) really seem to know the whole chicken dynamics. Thank you so much for the help!

This is exactly what Kong is doing but my pullets are probably a bit older than yours at 18 weeks. They haven't started laying yet but they're squatting for him and I started integrating at 3 days old from the incubator.