greatbarnet
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- Joined
- Aug 18, 2012
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Hi
I hope I'm not asking a question already asked - I've had a good look through and can't find exactly the same issue raised elsewhere, so here goes:
I'm wondering about introducing a young cockerel to an existing one. Basically I have an existing flock of 2 hens and 1 cockerel, and I have 3 five week old chicks (of which I'm pretty sure one is a roo). The youngsters are still in their brooder, not even permanently outdoors yet, and I don't plan introducing them for several weeks (I've read 16 weeks is about right?) or at least until they are nearer the same size as my existing ones. I plan to have them in a separate run alongside my other run for a while so they get used to each other for a few weeks and then one night after bedtime put them in the existing flock's coop. (Please let me know if this is not the best way!)
Anyway, am I right in understanding that when I do introduce them it will be fine if one of them is indeed a cockerel, and that if he's young he won't initially be a threat to my existing cockerel (himself an 18 month old bantam Wyandotte). Or should I not even try to put them together? I've been told they should be fine for about a year; is this true? I know it rather depends on the personality of the cockerels concerned, but am I being foolish to even try it?
Thanks!
I hope I'm not asking a question already asked - I've had a good look through and can't find exactly the same issue raised elsewhere, so here goes:
I'm wondering about introducing a young cockerel to an existing one. Basically I have an existing flock of 2 hens and 1 cockerel, and I have 3 five week old chicks (of which I'm pretty sure one is a roo). The youngsters are still in their brooder, not even permanently outdoors yet, and I don't plan introducing them for several weeks (I've read 16 weeks is about right?) or at least until they are nearer the same size as my existing ones. I plan to have them in a separate run alongside my other run for a while so they get used to each other for a few weeks and then one night after bedtime put them in the existing flock's coop. (Please let me know if this is not the best way!)
Anyway, am I right in understanding that when I do introduce them it will be fine if one of them is indeed a cockerel, and that if he's young he won't initially be a threat to my existing cockerel (himself an 18 month old bantam Wyandotte). Or should I not even try to put them together? I've been told they should be fine for about a year; is this true? I know it rather depends on the personality of the cockerels concerned, but am I being foolish to even try it?
Thanks!