Cockerels

rick

rick

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Thought to start a new thread with this rather than hammering it out in for sale or wanted.
So what happens if a cockerel is not at the top of the pecking order? Clearly its not what you want but I was wondering -
do they take their place lower down?
or are they rejected by the whole flock and attacked in a different way?
Obviously I don’t want that to happen but I’m just trying to work out what is the worst that could happen if an introduction went not according to plan.
Would they have a miserable life if they weren’t top chook? I guess they don’t do the 'new man' thing very well!
 
Only happened once but from that experience would say they take their place lower down the pecking order, generally being menaced by next bird up which is I suppose business as usual. An important tip when introducing cocks/cockerels is to put each of their new hens into their enclosure individually so they can fight it out one on one with each one of them rather than putting them into the hens territory first.
 
dinosaw said:
Only happened once but from that experience would say they take their place lower down the pecking order, generally being menaced by next bird up which is I suppose business as usual. An important tip when introducing cocks/cockerels is to put each of their new hens into their enclosure individually so they can fight it out one on one with each one of them rather than putting them into the hens territory first.
Click to expand...
So they come to meet him on his territory, to give him the advantage, is that right?
Lucky boy!
 
That's right. It makes me think of when I got Godzilla a few years ago (who I picked up on ftgh advert on here) all of the hens lining up outside his pen staring in at him, they weren't too happy a week later when I started putting them in with him though. The oldest ones were most put out that they were no longer ruling the roost.
 
If the name Godzilla suited him he probably didn’t need an advantage :)

Would you introduce the top hen first dinosaw?
 
He certainly looked the part.
http://poultrykeeperforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=7803&p=46779&hilit=godzilla#p46779

He was actually a very good natured lad but a bit of a trickster though who used to pick up stones pretending they were food, call the hens over and then jump on them, not very gallant.

I go with top hen first but I'm not sure whether it matters or not as I've never tried it the other way round, just seemed the thing to do. Of course you will need to give him a week or so to settle in before you do it which you would do as part of your quarantine precautions anyway.
 
I think some hens really like living with cockerels and feel deprived without one, others don't. I've noticed some really fall in love which is nice.
 
chickenfan said:
I think some hens really like living with cockerels and feel deprived without one, others don't. I've noticed some really fall in love which is nice.
Click to expand...

Your so right about that chickenfan.
 
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