The Old Folks Home

[ValerieJ]

@microchick do you have a way to separate the cockerels until they are a bit older and nicer?

 

[ValerieJ]

That’s awesome!! I think I’m gonna move my current girls to the new one and give them the room they finally deserve and move the littles into the old one haha Or I might just sell all the littles. Almost all boys.

There is an advantage to having both coops. You could set up a bachelor pad for the cockerels.

 

[ShrekDawg]

There is an advantage to having both coops. You could set up a bachelor pad for the cockerels.

An excellent idea!! although I think I seriously only have like one or two girls so I was thinking of just keeping them all together but I’m realizing now as I type that is a terrible idea cause they may fight over her? I may mingle them with the adults to teach them manners lol or at least let them free range together.

 

[Alaskan]

View attachment 2011876just a few butt nuggets.

I have missed you.

How have you been?

 

[microchick]

@microchick do you have a way to separate the cockerels until they are a bit older and nicer?

Yes I do. I have a smaller coop that was my portable first coop. I have it about 80% cleaned out. Need to finish it, get the netting over that run out of the snow and back up, get the gate hung that separates the two runs. The little heathens are going in there along with my extra cockerels as soon as I can get it done....exactly when depends on the weather but I'm hoping by the first of next month or so.

I love roosters so have decided not to butcher the extras but keep them as pets.....at the moment they are helping to keep the girls warm at night and irritating them during the day.

I have one little SWD bantam cockerel who greets me at the door every day tidbiting a pieceof straw for me. SOOOOO cute.

 

[ValerieJ]

An excellent idea!! although I think I seriously only have like one or two girls so I was thinking of just keeping them all together but I’m realizing now as I type that is a terrible idea cause they may fight over her? I may mingle them with the adults to teach them manners lol or at least let them free range together.

It seems to work out differently for different people and flocks. I had to separate my cockerels from the pullets and from each other because of hormonal aggression. I heard it can harm a pullet to be mated before she is laying eggs. I tried one of the cockerels in with the hens and he did okay for a few days, but always wanted back in his own coop at night. So I was shuffling him back and forth. Then he decided to go into one of the hen coops and he jumped on one of the girls and wouldn't get off, I assume to let her know who was boss. It was her coop. I had to pull him off her. Then when he went in the coop, she was crying again, and I had to go in and pull him off her again. She had never stood up to him, so I think it's just his age and raging testosterone. In two or three months, when I see them calm down, I may try one of the cockerels in with the hens again.

So, I will probably have 2 bachelor coops until I can figure out what will work in this flock.

 

[ValerieJ]

Yes I do. I have a smaller coop that was my portable first coop. I have it about 80% cleaned out. Need to finish it, get the netting over that run out of the snow and back up, get the gate hung that separates the two runs. The little heathens are going in there along with my extra cockerels as soon as I can get it done....exactly when depends on the weather but I'm hoping by the first of next month or so.

I love roosters so have decided not to butcher the extras but keep them as pets.....at the moment they are helping to keep the girls warm at night and irritating them during the day.

I have one little SWD bantam cockerel who greets me at the door every day tidbiting a pieceof straw for me. SOOOOO cute.

That sounds like a good plan. Meantime, just watch them and make sure no one is getting hurt. I hope your cockerels will get along together. That works for a lot of people. I might have a problem cockerel. One is not aggressive at all, and the other one is challenging me all the time, and will hop on top of the other cockerel.

I learned a lot by reading an article by @TwoCrows, as well as this one by @Shadrach. Have you read those?

 

[ShrekDawg]

It seems to work out differently for different people and flocks. I had to separate my cockerels from the pullets and from each other because of hormonal aggression. I heard it can harm a pullet to be mated before she is laying eggs. I tried one of the cockerels in with the hens and he did okay for a few days, but always wanted back in his own coop at night. So I was shuffling him back and forth. Then he decided to go into one of the hen coops and he jumped on one of the girls and wouldn't get off, I assume to let her know who was boss. It was her coop. I had to pull him off her. Then when he went in the coop, she was crying again, and I had to go in and pull him off her again. She had never stood up to him, so I think it's just his age and raging testosterone. In two or three months, when I see them calm down, I may try one of the cockerels in with the hens again.

So, I will probably have 2 bachelor coops until I can figure out what will work in this flock.

That makes a lot of sense!! Mine were fighting And crowing somewhat a lot but I think they were just bored in the small space with nothing to do maybe being outside will help them haha

 

[ValerieJ]

That makes a lot of sense!! Mine were fighting And crowing somewhat a lot but I think they were just bored in the small space with nothing to do maybe being outside will help them haha

I hope so! Keep us updated on how it works out for you. You may figure out something I haven't. We can share our challenges and successes.

ATM, my coops and runs are quiet. I'm lucky because I have 4 coops and runs, so I can shuffle them around as needed. The good news - I have 4 coops. The bad news - I have 4 coops. It might be convenient for the moment, but cleaning 4 coops? Oy!

 

[perchie.girl]

@microchick do you have a way to separate the cockerels until they are a bit older and nicer?

I kept mine in one happy family.... The main Roo keeps all the Chilluns in line... The batchelor flock orbits around the outside. I usually had three roos. Then any cockrels toed the line or kind of got dismissed to the chaparal. I plan on doing a bachelor partition if it gets overwhelming this time.

Because I wont be free ranging this go around

deb