Cockerel with small hen

[chickenfan]

I have a Marans hen that has grown up with an Araucana (large fowl), which I would now like to put with my cockerel. The two girls are good friends and both have lived with a cockerel before. Would it be unkind to put the Araucana in with the Marans cockerel? I think she will otherwise miss her friend, as they do everything together.

 

[chrismahon]

Can't see any problem with that Chickenfan. I think you are quite right that she will miss her friend if you separated them. We have had many cases where hens pine at the loss of their lifelong buddy. Even worse, from my experience, is when cockerels lose their favourite hen as they can get very stressed indeed. The result of this stress is illness of course.