Trouble introducing young cockerel

[rosco]

I have 2 cuckoo maran hens, just over a year old, in a smallish run and coop setup, but who get out free range most days or at least evenings. Recently I acquired a cuckoo maran cockerel, unrelated to the hens, and allegedly 6 months old, but who doesn't seem to crowing yet.

Being a cockerel I thought it would be ok just to drop him in, let them fight it out, and then they would be ok after a day or two. The morning after I dropped him in they were still squabbling a bit, but not too bad, so we left them in the run and went to work. When we got back, he had a gash in his neck and a big bald patch. I was shocked and upset at the sight of him as the hens were attacking him relentlessly. I've stuck up a small run with a perch and roof using all the building materials I had but its very small. It is directly next to the hens' run so that they can see each other through the mesh. I also sprayed him with antiseptic poultry spray with violet.

Yesterday evening when I got in from work (around a week since I got the cockerel) I let them all out to free range together and see how they got on. The girls were more interested in pecking lumps out of the cockerel than scratching around. He hid in a bush and I had to fetch him out. The violet on his neck doesnt seem to deter the hens either!

So now I dont know what to do? Should I put him in the run in the dark and let them fight it out in the morning? I'm worried that by the time I wake up (7ish) he will be seriously wounded! I've been offered some smelly spray stuff that a nearby farmer uses to stop his hens pecking, although I believe its made for pigs. Would that be a good idea? I realise that my intervention probably doesnt help matters but if he is going to get wounded or killed I dont know what else to do.

My only other thought was to wait a few weeks, by which time his hormones might kick in, and he wouldnt stand for any nonsense, and then shove them back together. But will he be too lonely until then?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers, Rosco.

 

[Chuck]

He is not assertive enough at the moment to cope with these particular hens, probably because of his age and immaturity. I would find a way of keeping him seperate until he does assert himself. Another small coop and run next to the hens would be best and which is bound to come in useful in the future. It's always best to bring females into the territory of the male if poss. This applies to many species.
Forget about lonely. Better that than dead !

 

[rosco]

Thanks for that. I have ordered some mesh from hills of devon and intend to build a new run/coop this weekend. As you say it will come in handy anyway and I am going to make it big enough to extend my flock, as I intend to breed next year.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Cheers

 

[chrismahon]

We had the same potential problem Rosco and did as Chuck said. Kept him separate for a month or so until he settled and was eating properly, near the hens, then introduced the hens to his territory, one at a time over a few hours with the top hen last. When all settled put them back together in the big run and coop, him first and the others following individually over a few hours.

 

[Nugget]

Hi all new to here and having a similar problem, have been given a cockerel he is araucana about 5 or 6 months old. I have 7 hens 4 just over a year and 3 coming up to a year.
The poor fella is been bullied and hiding in a corner to avoid them.
He has now taken to staying in the hen house and the girls won't go in or he won't let them till I force the issue, he sits by the little door watching, when I finally got them in last night well after dusk he stayed at the bottom and the girls went on the roost there was no fighting just a bit of noise. When I got up there this morning he is hanging round in and around the hen house door and all the girls are out they have laid there eggs in the house but when he comes near to them they go for him.
What to do now?.
Leave them to it? Or separate them?
Any advice greatly taken

 

[Chuck]

I would take him out and introduce him at a later stage when you are able to be there to keep an eye. He will need to assert himself at saome stage and they all do in the end.

 

[Stanley]

i know its not always possible, but having hens/cockerel at the same sort of age and size helps, if theyre young or small theyll be at a disadvantage regardless.
our gang seem quite pleasant in comparison, theyll have a peck or two but generally you can chuck anything with them and be ok!

 

[Nugget]

Update!

I've spent a lot of time up there watching and listening. I made him a separate rooste out side and put him up there today, he seems happier and all is settled. He went in to roost on the perch in the hen house tonight and the girls reluctantly went in after he had!! All is carm at the min. They shared feed with him to and was little attacking, just need him to show them who is boss,

 

[Marigold]

I wonder how much of this problem was down to him being a teenage boy in with some mature girls, and how much was also just what you'd expect if you introduced a single bird, of either sex, to an established flock? It's always hard to do this, especially if the newcomer is much less mature than the others. Very glad you've sorted it out. The separate run won't be wasted, you're sure to need it again in the future for something or somebody.

 

[rosco]

I'm just about finished constructing the new chicken paradise! Thunder and lightening at the weekend stopped work and I work all day so it's been an evening job.

My plan was to put the cockerel into the new run, and let him grow a bit before introducing the old hens that were bullying him.

BUT, I then had the idea of buying one or two young pullets to keep him company, and then when they all grow in size together, introduce the older hens one at a time over a full day (I only have two of them). Is this a bad idea? Or will introducing even more age differences cause a problem?

I've managed to find one (maybe two, the breeder is going to check today) silver laced wyandotte approaching point of lay, and thats what I was hoping to put in the cuckoo maran cockerel, who is around 6 months.

Any advice greatly appreciated!

Cheers

 

[rosco]

Wee update, there is only one hen and it is 17 weeks old. Is this too young to go in with my 6 month old cockerel? I'm thinking yes...

Any help would be really appreciated as if it would make the cockerel happier I would love to get him a wee pal.

Cheers

 

[Chuck]

Not suitable to live together yet as he should be at his most randy and will pull her about too much and she is not ready for mating anyway. You haven't said what breed but most males need three or four hens and plenty of space.

 

[rosco]

Thanks Chuck, he's a cuckoo marans and my two older hens are cuckoo marans too. It would really only be a temporary measure to keep him company until he's big enough to tackle the old hens, but I'll let the breeder know I won't be taking the pullet just yet.

Long term I plan to give him a bigger harem. Hoping for a broody next spring or I'll buy an incubator and bring on some young uns. I'm just finishing building an 8'x8' run and attached coop, and they get out free range too when I'm at home, so I should have room for a few more.