The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: MelRice on December 04, 2013, 11:30:43 pm

Title: Introducing a new cock.
Post by: MelRice on December 04, 2013, 11:30:43 pm

Ive brought in new girls easily before......put into shed at bed time , leave everyone in all day and next night, let out as normal. But this last boy intro has been a problem. I put him in Left them for the day and night  then when they came out he was not part of the group and went walk abouts so slept over the road ion a tree the night. He joined the flock the next am...so I thought all was fine


During the day he wondered off and found my friends girls a few doors down. I caught him and repeated the intro again. When let out all seemed fine and he went to bed with the girls I thought all was well.


Today they were all let out as normal and he seemed to be enjoying having this big flock of girls to watch over but when I went out soon after lunch he had gone again. Now it has been a bit gloomy so he could have taken himself off to bed somewhere, but to abandon all the girls?????

Title: Re: Introducing a new cock.
Post by: Victorian Farmer on December 05, 2013, 12:03:05 am

I would say he is not in condition ...run dawn is his come red .I would put him in a pen on is own and feed well treats and let him see the girls he will come round .

Title: Re: Introducing a new cock.
Post by: chrismahon on December 05, 2013, 03:57:25 am

As VF says it could be his physical condition is poor. It could also be that he is a youngster and has been attacked and beaten off by the top hen. Contrary to popular opinion a cockerel will not automatically assume dominance of, or be accepted by, a flock. We have had several rejections of healthy boys and had to reverse the situation by taking the flock to him, one at a time starting with the lowest in the pecking order. The second hen isn't introduced until the first has submitted to the cockerel. By the time the top hen is introduced it will be to an apparently established flock and she will integrate without problem -hopefully. Worked for us anyway MelRice.

Title: Re: Introducing a new cock.
Post by: MelRice on December 05, 2013, 10:24:45 pm

Thanks all.....I would do as you suggest if I could find him. He did not show today and I fear Mr fox may have found him first (not found pile of feathers though...so there may be a very tiny hope yet)