The boys are just shy of 3 months right now.
In this little subgroup there are 2 cockerels and 6 pullets (supposed to be 1 and 7).
One is an SBEL (super blue egg layer) and the other is a Welsummer. No biting, pecking or other issues towards people. They calmly stay a respectful 4-5 feet away from me whether it's a food delivery or other visit. They do not get pet or cuddled or handled beyond the basic physical checks. No crowing yet. Overall they will have 16 ladies to share once the pullets come of age and they're integrated with the big girls.
My question is more about how long until they start doing gentlemanly things like feeding the girls and so on- for now it's quite the opposite.
Right now the SBEL pecks any pullet who goes for water or food anywhere near him, or if she goes for the fresh offering before he gets to it- hard enough for "bwaakk!" and will do it again if they try to return to the food or water before he's done. He doesn't pursue them beyond sending them packing, but he's absolutely the first one that eats and drinks. The other one isn't obnoxious about the eating or drinking.
The pullets groom on the cockerels. They tend to groom the SBEL's beard, muffs and neck feathers- and that seems to be a common activity for most of the pullets. They'll do the same to the Welsummer, though they tend to groom his back. There's no feather pulling going on, more like brushing his feathers with their beaks. They stand there like little statues until they don't want any more, and end it by snapping at the pullets. (more "Bwwwakk!"). No apparent injuries from any of the above, just lots of noise.
So how long til we get the cute stuff?!?!?
In this little subgroup there are 2 cockerels and 6 pullets (supposed to be 1 and 7).
One is an SBEL (super blue egg layer) and the other is a Welsummer. No biting, pecking or other issues towards people. They calmly stay a respectful 4-5 feet away from me whether it's a food delivery or other visit. They do not get pet or cuddled or handled beyond the basic physical checks. No crowing yet. Overall they will have 16 ladies to share once the pullets come of age and they're integrated with the big girls.
My question is more about how long until they start doing gentlemanly things like feeding the girls and so on- for now it's quite the opposite.
Right now the SBEL pecks any pullet who goes for water or food anywhere near him, or if she goes for the fresh offering before he gets to it- hard enough for "bwaakk!" and will do it again if they try to return to the food or water before he's done. He doesn't pursue them beyond sending them packing, but he's absolutely the first one that eats and drinks. The other one isn't obnoxious about the eating or drinking.
The pullets groom on the cockerels. They tend to groom the SBEL's beard, muffs and neck feathers- and that seems to be a common activity for most of the pullets. They'll do the same to the Welsummer, though they tend to groom his back. There's no feather pulling going on, more like brushing his feathers with their beaks. They stand there like little statues until they don't want any more, and end it by snapping at the pullets. (more "Bwwwakk!"). No apparent injuries from any of the above, just lots of noise.
So how long til we get the cute stuff?!?!?
