What should i do with 5 cockerels?

[Ursuline Chick]

Coq a vin

 

[Deezchix]

Either build a nice, large rooster facility or you can rehome them right now.

Thank you. I think we may have to do both. In the garage we have a coop that we had used for our first 4 hens, it has a very nice run and space underneath as well. We will put the boys there temporarily until we can rehome to a good place.

 

[Deezchix]

Coq a vin

Yes, someone else did that and it looked delish!

 

[Deezchix]

They are working on the pecking order/dominance ranking. The very small size of your brooder/coop magnifies the conflict.


Probably a juvenile molt. They outgrow their feathers and have to replace them. A fully grown chicken would look pretty silly if it still had the feathers it had when it was 6 weeks old and they would not keep them warm.


They need more room. They are going to determine a social ranking or pecking order regardless. At 8 weeks and with enough room that is usually really peaceful, it typically gets more violent as they enter puberty, especially with boys.

Whether you have all boys, all girls, or a mix they are going to determine a pecking order. Sometimes that can be pretty violent, sometimes really peaceful. It may be fights to the death or it may be so gentle you don't even notice. My usual suggestion on this is to base your actions on what you see, not what some stranger over the internet tells you that you might see. Have a Plan B ready so you can separate them if you need to. That need often comes in a hurry.


If you are going to rehome them get it done as soon as you can. The longer you keep them the more attached you become. It costs you to feed them and it looks like you may be building new accommodations for them. I see no reason to try to integrate them into the main flock and cause disruption there. There is one exception to that in your case.


Since you are going to integrate that pullet it could be helpful to keep one cockerel to integrate with her. Integration of one single chick is harder than integration of two chicks. You can get rid of the boy later if you need to.

Thank you. I just discussed with hubby. We are moving them to a coop we have in the garage while he takes apart brooder to make a large "pen" type set up for the pullet and a cockerel in the main coop. I will talk to my daughter about posting the cockerels in marketplace.

 

[aart]

I have 7 laying hens and 2 pullets. The coop is about 4.5ft X 6ft with height of 6.5ft.

That's a tight fit already, might be hard to integrate any other birds in with them.

 

[Deezchix]

That's a tight fit already, might be hard to integrate any other birds in with them.

You may think so, but they actually have plenty room. They have 3 roost bars running entire length, and the 9 of them manage to all roost on like 1/3 lol. Hubby will be making a smaller roost bar to put at a lower level (not under the other bars of course) for the chicks once everyone is accustomed. They are only in there to sleep, we have a 24 x 24 garage if we ever have to move them. I will note that hubby and I were at Home Depot looking at some very nice shed displays on sale. He especially liked a nice mini barn looking one so might be a possibility for next year.

 

[aart]

You may think so, but they actually have plenty room. They have 3 roost bars running entire length, and the 9 of them manage to all roost on like 1/3 lol. Hubby will be making a smaller roost bar to put at a lower level (not under the other bars of course) for the chicks once everyone is accustomed.

I know so, been there done that.
Unless you have a nice large sheltered run for them to hang out during the days of frigid and/or stormy winter weather.

They are only in there to sleep,

Famous last words.

 

[Deezchix]

I know so, been there done that.
Unless you have a nice large sheltered run for them to hang out during the days of frigid and/or stormy winter weather.


Famous last words.

We actually do, 10ft x 20ft. They also free range the entire fenced in yard including 24ft x 18ft enclosed garden (until spring). There's also the garage I've mentioned. However, if that's not enough, maybe keeping the new pullet and cockerel in the garage would be best? Would you suggest maybe even moving some of our hens into the garage as well? I want to make sure all my chickens are healthy and happy.

 

[McChooky]

Facebook has rooster rescue groups you can join .Read the rules so your post will be seen not deleted.Most groups ask that you not use words like price,sell or free. Ask any members who may be interested in one of the roosters to send you a private message where it can be discussed privately. Be sure to post the city and state in the title and state the breed and age of the rooster

 

[Deezchix]

Facebook has rooster rescue groups you can join .Read the rules so your post will be seen not deleted.Most groups ask that you not use words like price,sell or free. Ask any members who may be interested in one of the roosters to send you a private message where it can be discussed privately. Be sure to post the city and state in the title and state the breed and age of the rooster

Thank you so much. I don't have social media, but my daughter has Facebook. I will let her know.