The Poultry Keeper

Andrew · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 11:37 am Post subject: Problems with my cockeral

One of my girls seems to be getting the rough end of the stick, mainly from the cockerel but also from the other girls.

She spends most of her time in the coop, when i go to check for eggs, or throw some special treats in the run she comes out, the cockerel is straight on top of her, giving her a good pecking, some of the other birds sometimes join in. When she escapes she runs back into the coop, and the cockerel seems to follow her to the pop hole stick his head in as if to say "stay there!", and then wanders off.

Should I let it continue? What can I do to stop it? Should I get rid of the cockerel? There's currently 12 girls and the cockerel in a 24m2 covered run. With the AF thing they are not allowed out, if nothing changes they will be able to roam at the end of May, but that's a loong way off.

Thanks,
Andy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I can't think of a solution to this. Is he actually mating with her or just pecking her? If mating then perhaps you should try to get hold of a poultry saddle for her to protect her from his amorous actions.

Andrew · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:31 pm Post subject:

thanks for your thoughts Summayah

I would have said he was a bit high for it to be mating, his claws are about level with her wings, and he pecks at her comb, until she manages to shake him off.

If I can find a poultry saddle I might try it anyway. What does it look like? any idea of cost?

Many Thanks,
Andy

Lisa · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:52 pm Post subject:

You could try a search on eBay.

Or I'm sure there was someone on the Practical Poultry forum that makes and sells them (I did try doing a search, but it was so slow I'm afraid I gave up Rolling Eyes

)

Andrew · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 5:12 pm Post subject:

Thanks Lisa I'll check those out.

Thx,
Andy

Issy · Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 371 Location: somerset

There was a link about this some time ago. I did a google search for turkey saddles and managed to print off a very nice picture of one that I copied and a couple of my grls are wearing a version made from old school trousers at the moment and very trendy they are too!!

Lisa · Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 6:58 pm Post subject:

Ah, if you do a search on "poultry saddles" you don't get much, but if you search on just "saddles" you get other threads and among them are:

one about saddle sore hens

and

one about poultry saddles

HTH Smile

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2299 Location: North Cornwall

I think sometimes you get a chook which nobody seems to like.

I have a tiny bantie that was thrown from the nest twice by her mum just after hatching. I reared her in the house with some Guinea Fowl chicks of the same age and they were fine for a while but then started to make her life a misery. So I move her in with the other bants who all knew her but again gave her a good pecking at every opportunity. She now shares a little house with one other tiny bant that I got from a friend, but it is a very touchy friendship and her little comb is very often ragged.

CP · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 2:05 am Post subject:

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Yes, it is, poor little thing ~ what type is she Jan?

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2299 Location: North Cornwall

Dont know really. Her name is Fred and she lays a very nice large egg for her size.

Andrew · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

i suspect my problem may be more like Jan's. Now I've seen the pics and understand them better, I don't think the saddles will help, unless covered in barbed wire!

Whilst having his way, the cock pecks at the young ladies comb, he does get on her back, but the pecking appears to be the big problem....

I always seem to have one lady at the bottom of the pile so to speak, that is being attacked, what can I be doing wrong?

Even with only six birds in the same space and regular free ranging, one of them was "pecked to death", I replaced her with two others and one of those then became the target.

Thanks for the links, and pointers.

Cheers,
Andy

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2299 Location: North Cornwall

I do what I can for Fred. If she is badly pecked I leave her in her run for a few days because blood seems to draw the others attention. When I give them their scratch feed I feed her away from the others as they wont let her near the food.
She seem to spend most days happily doing her own thing away from the rest.

When she hatched she had splayed legs and she has 5 toes, I don't know if that is why she is disliked so much by the others, but we think she is really sweet and is probably OH favorite.

Do what you can for your little girl, your problem sounds much the same as mine

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

If ever you have a chicken being pecked you need to cover the red ~ it draws the other chickens nd they can be cannibalistic. I got gentian violet spray ~ didn't fancy the stokholm tar ~ both cover the red and might give the hen a break.

Jan your girl looks like a cross of somekind ~ she has japanese tail but looks welsummery as well. She's very pretty.

Andrew is it possible for you to separate the cockerel from the girls for a few days ~ in a small cage or something. Maybe he might learn some manners by doing that ~ just a thought. I know others have tried similar tactics with bullies and they seem to settle down.

CP · Posted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 5:32 pm Post subject:

5 toes may indicate Dorking blood, but there's probably more than 1 breed with this trait. Confused