Time Out

[KsKingBee]

I have a cock that I put in a time out cage for picking on ALL the other birds in the run. The run is 12 x 34 with the open front coop and has one mature cock, one young cock and eight hens. He is a beautiful black shoulder that I have only had for a couple of months so turning him out might be iffy that he might wonder off. What I really want is for him for breeding. This guy though would chase everyone almost relentlessly and I have had one hen hurt.

My question, this is day three in time out and I would like to put him back in the run, do you think that could be enough time for the other cock to become dominate?

 

[zazouse]

All you can do is try but perhaps this has always been an issue with him.

 

[KsKingBee]

I have had that thought, I am just hoping that is not the case. He certainly would make for a nice yard bird, I am just afraid that he has not been here long enough to turn out but that is going to be my only option if he still picks on the rest of the birds in the run.

 

[zazouse]

Was he kept penned before you got him?

Do you have an extra pen where you could move him and a couple hens in to see if an unclaimed territory will change his tune?

 

[KsKingBee]

I am pretty sure he was penned. I wish I did have an extra pen for him and a few hens but sadly I don't. Hmm, extra pens, is that like extra money? Don't think I have ever had either.

I am leaning towards putting him back in and see how he acts, if he doesn't shape up he will get tossed out into the wild and we will see how he does on the outside.

 

[zazouse]

Mabe they could use a little more room when you get the funds, i don't pen mine but have read that each bird needs around 100 square foot, perhaps the new guy was use to more room.
More pens are always better even if you don't think you need them.

 

[MinxFox]

I see in your signature that you raise different kinds of chickens. Maybe you could raise funds to build a new pen by selling chicken eggs or hatching eggs and selling chicks? I know chickens probably go for less money than peafowl but I am sure there is also more of a demand for chickens. You could also sell your bird's poop to gardeners. I have figured out that if I ever need to I think I could sell glass jewelry to fund peafowl related things.

I agree with Zaz I have one pen but a small attachment that I can close off to keep any problem birds or birds ready to be caught up and sold, but other than that I am in serious need of more pens. You never know when you will get the chance to get new birds or something so I am definitely learning quickly that it would be way better to have extra pens than to have none extra at all. I think someone on here made a fairly cheep pen using palettes and things and I know Frenchblackcopper got some used fencing from a friend for free or cheep so sometimes you can find some good deals.

Speaking of pallets though, I noticed what one peafowl breeder does for his peahens is he leans a pallet up against the wall of the shelter so that if the peacock is getting too rough with the peahens, they can hide behind the pallet.

 

[zazouse]

That is a good idea minxfox, heck you can get 10 dollars or more for the peafowl eggs and with 8 hens a layen you could get up to 80 dollars worth in a day most days during the week while breeding season is here.
Lots of free stuff out there if you keep your eyes open.

 

[KsKingBee]

MinxFox, great tip on the pallet! I see one hen that will hide behind the feeder so I will get right on that. As to having the funds to build pens, that is not the problem. I just thought the oxymoron was funny, extra money. No my problem is time management, and the fact that the isolation pen is already being used. Soo much to do and so little time, retirement is hard work.

 

[KsKingBee]

Zaz, I don't have eight hens a laying, perhaps I should have called some of them pullets. A neighbor was trying to reduce his flock and sold me some hens for $50. each so I have maybe two Blue and one Cameo hen in each of my two new pens of laying age. The third pen is all IB pullets and cockerels with two mature cocks. I have been getting two eggs per day and once I got four.

Last year I saw some pea eggs at the monthly auction, not sure what they brought, I will find out.

Well I put BS back into the pen, he reminds me of an adolescent boy with raging hormones. No sooner did I set him down and up popped his tail, and started shaking his feathers and chasing the girls. If I see any biting or clawing he is going to be free to strut on the outside of the pen. I was hoping that the other cock would be perceived as the dominant one but this guy seems oblivious to anything other than mating.