Bullying of cockeral

[doncro]

I was wondering if any body can help with a problem that I am having with my arucana cockeral,for the last 8 months his girls 4 arucanas 1 light sussex 1 orpington and a exchequer leghorn rip the feathers from his rear end until he is compleetly bald. I have seperated him for a couple of months so as he can regain some feather growth and yesterday re-introduced him back to his harem. Within minutes they were at it again and making him bleed. What i dont understand is he does not seem to mind them doing this any ideas would be much appreciated?

 

[Marigold]

Within minutes they were at it again and making him bleed. What i dont understand is he does not seem to mind them doing this any ideas would be much appreciated?

Perhaps he's just into S&M? (Sorry, Doncro, no help I know, couldn't resist it though.)
If he's actually bleeding, you should separate him ASAP, and treat him with purple spray or his injuries will get worse and they may even kill him.
I hope someone with more experience with managing cockerels will be able to give you more practical advice about how he can be helped to integrate with his girls.

 

[doncro]

Thanks for that when i see the hens with thier whips i think i will get the hell out of there!

 

[Chuck]

You could try anti peck spray. It has a bad taste and I've found it very effective (Net Tex) though you may need to keep applying it. Don't know why they do this except tit's well known they get a taste for feathers. The spray is also a healer so no purple spray is needed. Worth a try.

 

[animartco]

If he is being henpecked he lacks bottle. The sensible thing would be to get a cockerel that can handle his wives. But if you want to keep that one putting him with some very docile hens, rescue layers or good sized white Pekins might just restore his confidence and get him going. How young was he when you put him in with the hens? Cockerls should never be introduced to new hens until they are fully grown furnished and crowing.

 

[chrismahon]

Hello Doncro. We have a problem with all of ours eating the cockerel's combs. They peck the scabs off and the cockerels let them -seems to be a preening arrangement. Unfortunately when they get a taste for the blood they want more. The worst case was two wyandottes, separated for the offence for 3 months, introduced to a new cockerel and in 4 hours they ate half his large comb. The two hens were culled.

So what i am saying is there may be no cure for it and permanent separation is necessary. The hens can never have a cockerel. We have tried Stockholm Tar on the injuries. Like a thick version of the Net tex spray, but a tiny fraction of the price. We stir it well and then apply it with a cotton bud. Doesn't wash off but needs to be reapplied every few days. It has a limited effect though because shortly after stopping the applications one always starts again. We have found the only successful treatment is far more space in the runs as boredom appears to be a major factor. Since letting ours out earlier the problem has reduced considerably and I am now building extensions to the runs they say in when we go out.

 

[doncro]

Well we seem to have rectified the situation. We have moved him in with our four Wyanadotte bantoms and they have accepted him well and are not pecking his rear end and he seems as happy as Larry, Problem solved.