Randy cockerel causing us problems!

laxeylady

Hoping someone can offer advice on how to deter a cockerel from pestering our chickens. We have six young birds who are just starting to lay. They are in a run, but whenever we are home and the weather is settled we let them wander about the garden. The farmer along the road has a !!!! but no hens. It wanders about freely and since it got a sniff of our birds it has been a constant thorn in our side. We either have to take turns chasing it out the garden, or leave it to nobble the girls - but he is rough with them and we really don't want broody birds. Today we caught it and clipped one wing, but it can still fly on to our four and a bit foot wall and come into the garden. Haven't we took enough feather off? What else (apart from wring its neck) can we do? The farmer is an old grump who lives to annoy everyone else so we didnt bother approaching him. If we do have to kidnap (or worse) the !!!! we thought it better that he was in the dark! Any advice?

Mojisola

Being served by the cockerel won't make them broody so don't worry about that. Some of our girls go broody; others never do. Broodiness will also vary with the breed of hen.

He's doing what comes naturally because he doesn't have any hens of his own.

laxeylady

So just let him get on with it? He has injured one hen's comb and one of the smaller birds is quite frightened of him. I just can't face having to guard them every time I let them out. I suppose some of the girls might welcome his advances! Our only alternative is to buy the farmer some of his own!:rotfl:

Mojisola

laxeylady wrote: »

So just let him get on with it? He has injured one hen's comb and one of the smaller birds is quite frightened of him. I just can't face having to guard them every time I let them out. I suppose some of the girls might welcome his advances! Our only alternative is to buy the farmer some of his own!:rotfl:

It sounds as if that or the cockerel getting lost might be the only answer. Of course, if he's only got a few hens of his own, he may still come and visit yours.

laxeylady

He's such a handsome beast I can't stand the idea of hurting him. You have to give it ten out of ten for its persistence too! Us catching it and clipping its wing did not stop it from coming back five minutes later.

Mojisola

Our cockerel has a favourite hen and we've had to equip her with a poultry saddle like these - http://poultrykeeper.com/chickens/frequently-asked-questions/poultry-saddles.html

laxeylady

Have stopped chasing it about - it was scaring the girls too much. If they are in the run he just lies down next to it and will stay all day. When they are out you have to watch like a hawk as goodness knows how many he can knobble! I reckon he probably 'services' all six of them in the time it takes me to spot him. Exhausting. Thinking of adoption (although I wouldn't fancy having to make my ladies wear the always ultra number in your link Mojisola!)

Mojisola

laxeylady wrote: »

Have stopped chasing it about - it was scaring the girls too much. If they are in the run he just lies down next to it and will stay all day. When they are out you have to watch like a hawk as goodness knows how many he can knobble! I reckon he probably 'services' all six of them in the time it takes me to spot him. Exhausting. Thinking of adoption (although I wouldn't fancy having to make my ladies wear the always ultra number in your link Mojisola!)

With stylish wings!

Our hen is wearing the smaller version and I'm very surprised that she isn't bothered about having it on. I thought she'd peck at it and try to remove it but it doesn't seem to bother her at all.

Your friendly cockerel is a real problem. Perhaps the fox will get him one night?

gibson123

:o:o PMSL with all this sex and violence on the Greenfinger forum, I am off back to lurking on the Marriage etc. thread, it's all too much for me.... sorry couldn't resist :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Lotus-eater

He's just doing what is natural to him and the hens will learn to live with it. On the plus side, he will protect them and it means you don't have to have your own cockerel, although you'll still be paying for the food of course
You either keep them in the run, or you get your own cockerel, which if he's tough enough, will chase (ie fight) the other one off.

As said before, it won't make them broody, that's down to other things. Some people like having one with their hens, as he looks after them, keeps them in line and generally is top dog, he will protect them from anything.

You've got 6 hens, so it's a good ratio. You don't have to worry about your darlings, the reason the one is afraid of him, is because it's normal, she is probably the bottom hen, chickens have a hierarchy, with the c*ck usually at the top, then a line all the way down to the bottom hen.
It's a pecking order, you will have some hens afraid of each other too.

I wouldn't worry about it atm. Unless you plan to get rid of it in the night (and make sure you do it without anyone finding out, or you really will be in trouble from the troublesome neighbour), there's not much you can do.
If he starts really making a mess of a hen, then you can keep them in the run, but I think you're worrying a bit like new hen owners tbh.

lostinrates

Another cockeral and he will as likely fight as see one off.

This time of year is the worst, but when it ceases to be such a novelty he will probably serve them all a couPle of times a day and relax a bit in between.

I agree the cockeral is no bad thing for the security of your girls. Bear in mind he might get a little protective of them towards you too, and be prepared, wear boots so if he strikes you a spur cannot hurt you and stand your ground. If you let him chase you he will think he is on to something and get worse!