over-sexed?!

[Blue]

abit of backround first ....
we have a mixed "big shed", containing a variety of breeds & ages of pullets but all hatched during 2010. none have laid yet. some are too young to sex, we have parted with cockerels once we are sure.

we found dead a Derbyshire redcap & a plymouth barred rock a couple of days ago - thought it could be the stress of the cold weather we've been having.

they all had a dose of panacur & baytrill in Novemember, following some deaths of chickens & baby quail.

today, I saw the Naked Neck cockerel ( unsure of sex til today!) mounting a redcap.
he is quite a big bigger & she was hunched to the floor...

I wondered if its possible that the two that died might have been crushed by his "attentions?"

does this happen?
in which case he'll be sunday dinner - cant afford to lose the slower growing rare breeds....

thanks

 

[Blue]

bump!
can a large cockerel squash his girlfriends?!

 

[foxy]

Hi Blue, large cockerels can stress a hen, particulary if he is overly amourous, the younger boys do tend to be a bit rough too. They can certainly cause damage by damaging feathers and sometimes the wounds can look awful.
Can he squash her? Maybe...I don't know, have never come across the problem personally, do have large fowl in with bantams, however, I watch carefully and if the cocks are paying attention to the bantams usually they are removed. Someone else may have different experiences though?
Interestingly I am finding that the young cockerels have started to fight now the pullets have come into lay.

 

[Aileen]

:lol: Sorry this post did make me smile.......... How's your over sexed cockerel?? Still living the life or was he lovely with a bit of gravy and some roast tatties????

 

[Blue]

well, I've not eaten him yet as he wouldnt fill a big pan yet!
He's a Naked Neck, so I call him "Turkey" as he look abit like one!

he was chuntering away at me today (hungry!) and chased the newest & smallest light sussex so I had words with him

we had a HUGE fox round 2 nights ago (picture me & husband out in the frosty night, in our pyjamas at half past 3 chasing Reynard Fox with a mop! it was "to hand" in the kitchen. Even worse.. the dog woke us to tell us he was out there, by jumping up and blacking my eye!!)
So I'm being nicer to "turkey" cos I worry for them. Mr Fox didnt get anything ... the rabbits would be easier targets than the chickens actually.

There's never a dull or quiet moment here, honestly!

 

[Aileen]

:lol: go turkey!
I lost a little pekin this morning... absolutely gutted, she was only 4 months old! She was Buff and blossoming into a cracker....
I have no idea why, she was fine yesterday and this morning when I opened their door she wasn't amidst the usual brekkie mayhem... I found her all curled up in the corner eyes shut breathing very shallowly (if there is such a word..!) Brought her in the house and wrapped her in a tea towel and sat with her till she passed away.. OMG I am bubbling here telling you, how sad!
So frustrated as I treat them better than my 2 little sons but this is the second time in a year, I lost a sussex at about the same age last year and the breeder I bought them from wrongly sexed a cockerel which we had to re-home,I am convinced its the person I got her from.... not going to name drop but I called her this morning and was told she doesn't vaccinate any of her birds... not sure whether my birds are rife with all sorts now!
Keeping everything crossed all goes well over the next few days for my 5 remaining ladies!

 

[Blue]

oh dear Aileen ... its so hard to lose them, especially so young.

ring your vet (It saves paying a consultation fee!!) and ask for advice.
It could be that the rest need a dose of something.

we lost half a dozen earlier in the year, and loads of baby quail - the rest cost me over £150 in coccidiosis treatment, wormers, antibiotics... but what else could I do?

 

[foxy]

Just had to isolate and strap a young faverolles with a broken wing poor thing....I think due to a cockerel, judging by the little tell tell blood spots on her comb She is a sweetie, chattering away to me, at least she is more comfortable and the her colour has come back.