If you have older hens, they will teach a young cockerel some manners. He will learn to approach the hens and pullets politely and not tear them up and overbreed them, yanking their feathers, like a randy young cockerel might do in the absence of older ladies. It also helps, I have found, if the flock has one older rooster who can keep the cockerel from getting too full of himself. In my flock of close to 30, the cockerel had to woo a few young pullets away from the established roo, one or two at a time, and he had to cultivate them to keep them. He now, at seven months, has a loyal following of about seven hens;.he treats them well and they seem happy with him. He is gentle, generous and well-behaved. There is a little posturing between him and the older roo, but no real fights. There is peace in the valley!