Time's up? Cook the cockerels?

[NHMountainMan]

@Ridgerunner - If I've identified the breeder bresse, I'm assuming I do not separate him with the bresse pullet until after the raging hormones have calmed. Moving them together to a breeding coop would feel premature - but want to confirm. She's the same age. Not looking ready to lay anytime soon. .... just typing that I think answered my own question...

 

[Ridgerunner]

The rangers and possibly the bresse will be in the orchard (hoping they fertilize and eat some of bugs that eat the apples.

Did not work for me. They don't get enough of the bugs that lay the eggs that eat the apples when those bug eggs hatch. I wish it were that easy.

Moving them together to a breeding coop would feel premature

To me, way premature.

Speaking of breeding, I'll go through this. it might help with your planning.

It takes an egg about 25 hours to go through the hen's internal egg-making factory. That egg can be fertilized only in the first few minutes of that journey. That means if a mating takes place on a Monday, Monday's egg cannot be fertile from that mating. Tuesday's egg might be but don't count on it. Wednesday's egg should be.

A rooster does not mate with every hen in his flock every day, but he doesn't have to. In the last part of the mating act the rooster hops off. The hen stands up, fluffs up, and shakes. This shake gets the sperm in a special container near where that egg starts its journey. That sperm can remain viable for 9 days to over three weeks. It really varies. Most of us count on the hen remaining fertile for two weeks, that usually works. But if you want to be sure she is fertile from the one you want her to be, you need to keep her away from all other roosters for at least three weeks. That's usually enough. But to be absolutely sure wait four weeks.

 

[NHMountainMan]

The rangers and possibly the bresse will be in the orchard (hoping they fertilize and eat some of bugs that eat the apples.
Did not work for me. They don't get enough of the bugs that lay the eggs that eat the apples when those bug eggs hatch. I wish it were that easy.

trying to avoid chemicals is REALLY hard.

That means if a mating takes place on a Monday, Monday's egg cannot be fertile from that mating. Tuesday's egg might be but don't count on it. Wednesday's egg should be.

I'd read some about the sperm lifecycle viability, but understanding that timing really is helpful. Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Did my wife put you up to that?

Lol, no... that's what the breeder of Swedish Flower Hens told me when I was picking them up one day early in my adventure. And it's what I experienced after raising hundreds of birds in dozens of breeds.. touted by many... only to learn that MY interest and likes or dislikes and set up experiences and expectations were different. Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun. I so look forward to sleeping!

To me, we are ALL terminal... diagnosed with the human condition.
Most of us don't have an appreciation for how valuable or short our time here is. But there are some valued BYC members no longer with us already... and when I come across their posts on threads past can't help but think about how much I miss their insight and thoughtfulness and how blessed I am for to be a part of this community. I Miss @donrae! I hope other contributing members will know that the impact they had once they are gone might be gone but it won't be forgotten.

 

[NHMountainMan]

Lol, no... that's what the breeder of Swedish Flower Hens told me when I was picking them up one day early in my adventure. And it's what I experienced after raising hundreds of birds in dozens of breeds.. touted by many... only to learn that MY interest and likes or dislikes and set up experiences and expectations were different. Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun. I so look forward to sleeping!

To me, we are ALL terminal... diagnosed with the human condition.
Most of us don't have an appreciation for how valuable or short our time here is. But there are some valued BYC members no longer with us already... and when I come across their posts on threads past can't help but think about how much I miss their insight and thoughtfulness and how blessed I am for to be a part of this community. I Miss @donrae! I hope other contributing members will know that the impact they had one they are gone might be gone but it won't be forgotten.

Well said!

 

[BroodyCluck]

I have 7 pullets in 1 coop, and 4 cockerels in a separate coop, about 200 ft apart. I have let them mingle during the day, and until last night, they went home to roost in the correct coop. It was really cold the past few nights, and last night wind was blowing steady in the 30's with gusts in the 50mph - so wind chills about -20.

I went to tuck them in and the cockerel coop was empty. The cockerels had moved in with the pullets (scandalous - I know!). I assume that the cold drove them to roost together. The coop is large enough for all 11.

Today, I noticed nasty teenage behavior. The 2 bresse cockerels are very large at 26 weeks. They were relentlessly chasing my 30 wk old Easter egger, trying to corner and mount, while biting her neck feathers. She is not yet laying, if that matters. They were ignoring the bresse pullet they were initially brooded with, before I knew they were cockerels. It was all targeted on the easter egger (she found an obstacle to hide behind.) The other pullets seems to stay with the other cockerels - and the bresse bullies stayed away. The area they roam is about 200 by 200 surrounded by electric netting.

So I have options - I can fully separate all cockerels, or just the bresse by dividing the roaming area in half - it would be look no touch. I can process and cook 1 to see if the dynamic changes. Or process both bresse. (though I am hoping to mate the Bresse to see if I can get a self sustaining flock.)

Advice? What would you do?

I would choose the best two cocoriels and split them one for each coop. Choose what pullets you want with each of the chosen cockerels. Keep them in not allowing them out for a few days. Now they will learn what pullets are their's. The two left over cockerels keep in a cage together until you see how it goes and you can decide if these cockerels are going to do right or are they going to tear the hens up. You then may have to do a trade out.
Now when each cockerels has had time to realize these are his pullets, let one group out. After you've determined they did well, and everyone put their selves up. The next day keep them in and let the other group out. Rotate like this a few times. Then let both groups out together at a time when you are at hand to supervise. If you see one of the cockerels go after the pullets that are not his, go after him with a net and shoo him into the coop with his pullets and keep them locked up for the day. Next day try again. Do the same if a cockerel starts a fight get the aggressor. Lock him up with his pullets for the day. They will catch on with perseverance. Now when all is settled you need to decide whether you will get some more pullets for the other cockerels or will they be dinner.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Lol, no... that's what the breeder of Swedish Flower Hens told me when I was picking them up one day early in my adventure. And it's what I experienced after raising hundreds of birds in dozens of breeds.. touted by many... only to learn that MY interest and likes or dislikes and set up experiences and expectations were different. Don't get me wrong, I had a ton of fun. I so look forward to sleeping!

To me, we are ALL terminal... diagnosed with the human condition.
Most of us don't have an appreciation for how valuable or short our time here is. But there are some valued BYC members no longer with us already... and when I come across their posts on threads past can't help but think about how much I miss their insight and thoughtfulness and how blessed I am for to be a part of this community. I Miss @donrae! I hope other contributing members will know that the impact they had one they are gone might be gone but it won't be forgotten.

X2
It would have been nice to have a site like this 50 or 60 years ago.
Oh yeah. The internet hadn't been invented yet.
Isn't the internet a wonderful thing?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

double post.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

triple post.

 

[BroodyCluck]

If you have to put a cockerel up for misconduct never leave his pullets out because the other cockerel is likely to be brutal to the pullets that are not his and the other pullets are likely to join in. Keeping cockerels with their own pullets established boundaries with your help also of course.