Young Cock's Living Quarters

[Evadig]

My Jen hatched out two chicks who are not related to her a couple months ago, and one crowed last Friday.
I have read that cockerels will grow up to be better roosters if they're raised by the flock. The flock free-ranges together once in a while, but much of the time they're separated into different compartments based on what subflock they're in.
The chick in question lives in Apt. 1 with his mom and his sibling, whose gender is yet unknown. Apt. 2 holds four four-month-old pullets. Apt. 3 has a two-year-old hen (his bio mom) and two nine-month-old hens.
There is also another coop that has a rooster (his father) and two year-old hens.
My question is, to make (more) sure of his growing up to be a good rooster, should I at some point take him from Jen and put him in one of the other apartments? Thanks!

 

[ChicNmom]

Will mom and babies eventually be put back in with the main group?

I have 3 month olds that are mingling with the older girls. They are giving my surprise cockerel etiquette lessons.

 

[Evadig]

Will mom and babies eventually be put back in with the main group?

I have 3 month olds that are mingling with the older girls. They are giving my surprise cockerel etiquette lessons.

There is no main group. They permanently live in these apartments. I can post pictures of the setup if that would be helpful .

 

[aart]

They permanently live in these apartments.

Why.... what are your goals here?
...and does another male have any place in the goals?

 

[Evadig]

Why.... what are your goals here?
...and does another male have any place in the goals?

Well, I really don't have any goals...all of the chickens are pets and while they provide eggs, I keep them as lawn ornaments pretty much.

I am slowly working on rehoming most of my flock, which includes the new cockerel, but until then I wanted to know if it would be better that he lives with mature hens or his mother and sibling. He's eight weeks old.

 

[ChicNmom]

If you're ultimately re-homing I'd leave him with mom and hopefully sis and maybe rehome them as a group.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have read that cockerels will grow up to be better roosters if they're raised by the flock.

Why do people say that? They have their own reasons but in my opinion sometimes the hens will go out of their way to beat a cockerel up, supposedly that improves his manners. But sometimes they don't beat him up. Sometimes he forces the hens to mate. Sometimes there is little interaction between mature hens and an immature cockerel so nobody gets beat up. Sometimes he forces the pullets his age to mate but he and the hens stay apart.

Whatever you believe about that, I'd have other concerns. At some point the broody hen will wean those chicks, want to have nothing to do with them. She will need to go back with the main flock. Since she has been separated from them that may be an integration. What will you do with those to chicks then?

Until they mature enough chicks usually are afraid of adults. With pullets that is usually when they start to lay. Until then they usually try to avoid adults. With chickens you can always find exceptions to anything but this is what I usually see. I don't have any "usuals" with cockerels. Sometimes they can force their way into the pecking order fairly young (like when they force mate the hens), sometimes they stay away for quite a while (like when the hens beat them up).

Instead of worrying about trying to make him into a better rooster I'd concentrate on getting him old enough and mature enough so he can join the flock. In your situation I'm not sure what they means but I'd probably keep him with his sibling as long as they get along. And since you are rehoming try to get that done.

The flock free-ranges together once in a while, but much of the time they're separated into different compartments based on what subflock they're in.
The chick in question lives in Apt. 1 with his mom and his sibling, whose gender is yet unknown. Apt. 2 holds four four-month-old pullets. Apt. 3 has a two-year-old hen (his bio mom) and two nine-month-old hens.
There is also another coop that has a rooster (his father) and two year-old hens.
My question is, to make (more) sure of his growing up to be a good rooster, should I at some point take him from Jen and put him in one of the other apartments? Thanks!

 

[Evadig]

Why do people say that? They have their own reasons but in my opinion sometimes the hens will go out of their way to beat a cockerel up, supposedly that improves his manners. But sometimes they don't beat him up. Sometimes he forces the hens to mate. Sometimes there is little interaction between mature hens and an immature cockerel so nobody gets beat up. Sometimes he forces the pullets his age to mate but he and the hens stay apart.

Whatever you believe about that, I'd have other concerns. At some point the broody hen will wean those chicks, want to have nothing to do with them. She will need to go back with the main flock. Since she has been separated from them that may be an integration. What will you do with those to chicks then?

Until they mature enough chicks usually are afraid of adults. With pullets that is usually when they start to lay. Until then they usually try to avoid adults. With chickens you can always find exceptions to anything but this is what I usually see. I don't have any "usuals" with cockerels. Sometimes they can force their way into the pecking order fairly young (like when they force mate the hens), sometimes they stay away for quite a while (like when the hens beat them up).

Instead of worrying about trying to make him into a better rooster I'd concentrate on getting him old enough and mature enough so he can join the flock. In your situation I'm not sure what they means but I'd probably keep him with his sibling as long as they get along. And since you are rehoming try to get that done.

Ok, thanks for the clarification! That is helpful. How do I know when the broody hen is done with them? Like she doesn't actively care for them anymore but they still run to her when someone pecks them and she still defends them from the rest of the flock (sort of). And they sleep cuddled up beside her. Will she start pecking them?

 

[Ridgerunner]

She might start pecking them to drive them away but usually I just notice them not hanging out together. I've had some wean their chicks as early as 3 weeks, some not until close to 3 months. I've had some hens stop taking care of their chicks during the day but sleep with them at night. I've had some not sleep with them at night but take care of them during the day. It can vary but basically she rejoins the flock and leaves them on their own.