Unassertive Cockerel

[gocgo]

I've got a 22 week old BO cockerel that is not only unassertive...he's scared s---less. He opts to hang outside in -0 (F) temps and get frostbite rather than go into the coop and get the crap beat out of him by the girls. The pullets that he was raised with don't seem to bother him, but the older girls who are prime laying age just abuse him. I've found him wedged behind a laying box on days that are simply too cold to open the door...and if I did open the door, I have no doubt that he would get booted out into the cold. I have made a point to bring food and water out to him during the day. Sometimes, I have to catch him and bring him into the coop at night. When he does get in, it is obvious that he is really hungry. The coop is 6x14 with a total of 15 birds including him. The run is a total of about 500 sq ft. with an evergreen tree to hide under (and he does).

My question is if there is such a thing as a cockerel that just never does develop into a rooster? Will he eventually "man up" or will could he be destined to be henpecked his entire life?

 

[azygous]

At five and a half months, he's barely coming into his hormones. When spring hits, assuming you live in the upper half of the planet, I'm sure you'll see a transformation come over him.

What he's going through is a process where the cockerel develops self confidence and the hens slowly come to trust him to supply sperm for their eggs. It could take another six months to a year for this to unfold.

Meanwhile, it sounds like a little intervention is in order so he soesn't starve. An undernourished cockerel will be at a distinct disadvantage, not having the necessary energy reserves to assume his role in the flock. Installing a feeding station for him to safely eat would be a good solution.

 

[Chickassan]

Not unusual at all for one that age to be scared of pretty much everything, and have you ever watched your girls? They're merciless and terrifying! He'll be fine, he's a man in progress.

 

[CCUK]

Poor guy. Cockerals have the odds stacked against them from hatching and them the lucky ones get beat up by a bunch of hens. Hope he finds his .... Soon!

 

[red horse ranch]

Is there room to fence off a small area in the coop for him so he could be near them but still be protected? A dog kennel would work if there is room in it for food and water. Some roosters mature later that others and with a BO's docile nature he's just not ready to assert himself. He will starve if not allowed to get as much food and water as he needs so he needs protection for a little longer. I think once he matures he will make a fine rooster.

 

[gocgo]

He gets his food and water and the weather should break soon to where he is fine outside with his own stash of food and water. The tough days are the ones where he is cooped up inside. Good idea on the dog kennel. I can put that inside on the cooped up days and put him in there with his stash of food/water/goodies. I was really hoping he would just say enough is enough and defend himself, but that isn't happening.

 

[SueT]

Ha, I have the same situation w a shy little bantam Cochin cockerel named Carl. There are 6 lovely pullets his age, who adore him, and then 2 grumpy old maid hens who can't stand the sight of him. They attack him if he crows, or if he gets fresh w the young ladies, who the hens don't like either. He has to stay in the back of the run which is large, in rain, snow, ice. I put food back there for him. My solution is to let the 2 hens free range part of the time. They're happy, the 'kids' are happy....and we get some free range eggs out of the deal. If a predator gets the mean hens, well, they're expendable as far as I'm concerned. But so far this situation has gone on several months w no problem.

 

[bobbi-j]

He gets his food and water and the weather should break soon to where he is fine outside with his own stash of food and water. The tough days are the ones where he is cooped up inside. Good idea on the dog kennel. I can put that inside on the cooped up days and put him in there with his stash of food/water/goodies. I was really hoping he would just say enough is enough and defend himself, but that isn't happening.

Give him time. He's still a young 'un.

 

[Chickassan]

I'd say another month tops and he'll be a different guy. When the stones drop they drop hard. He's still thinking with his brain which values self preservation, he'll soon not have that luxury and will only focus on hens, hens, hens! I remember my roo at that age, the hens gave him nothing but grief, one day he wooed the biggest, meanest hen here and he never looked back.

He gets his food and water and the weather should break soon to where he is fine outside with his own stash of food and water. The tough days are the ones where he is cooped up inside. Good idea on the dog kennel. I can put that inside on the cooped up days and put him in there with his stash of food/water/goodies. I was really hoping he would just say enough is enough and defend himself, but that isn't happening.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

My question is if there is such a thing as a cockerel that just never does develop into a rooster? Will he eventually "man up" or will could he be destined to be henpecked his entire life?

More often then you would think in a multi rooster habitat more than a single roo habitat. I have alphas roos living with wimpy roo lovers.
Breaks the stereotype myth of Roosters are all mean and ruthless.
I have one who gets beat up by the ladies.. He drawled the short straw when he was hatched.

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