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lillie02
Joined: 18 May 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Wales
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 Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:27 pm Post subject: Cockeral that doesn't crow |
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| Can you have a cockeral that doesn't crow. I have a 18 weeek old that I thought was a hen but yesterday caught her tredding one of the other hens. She/he struts about like a cockeral but has never crowed. Any ideas? |
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Pekinout
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 1196
Location: Cornwall
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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If the comb and wattles are larger than the hens, and the neck feathers are pointy and not rounded, it's a cock.
He probably hasn't learnt how to crow yet, as all cockerels crow.
If the comb and wattles are the same size as the hens it could just be a dominant female. When there's no cock with a flock, sometimes the top of the pecking order takes on the role of the cockerel and will even tread the hens, and sometimes starts to crow as well. |
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vanessa
Joined: 24 Sep 2005
Posts: 1267
Location: Correze
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Also look for pointy saddle feathers (the ones that drape either side of the tail) - another tell-tale sign of a coq-bird. |
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lillie02
Joined: 18 May 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Wales
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 1:45 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the advice. I checked his feathers last night. Deffinatly pointy. He must be a cockeral. When he starts to crow he will have to go as my neighbours don't mind the hens but I'm not sure about a cockeral crowing.  |
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Pekinout
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 1196
Location: Cornwall
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 3:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Sometimes they can be 12mths old before they crow. Try covering the window of the hen house so no light gets in and he may not crow (when he starts) as he'll think it's still night time. |
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lillie02
Joined: 18 May 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Wales
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:04 am Post subject: |
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Well he was a cockeral. He had to go. I only have 3 hens and he has spent all weekend chasing 2 of them round and wouldn't leave them alone. They are looking quite bedraggled. Then he got in with the sablepoots and started on one of them. So when OH came home this morning he did it before I got up. Feeling sad
But OH had surprise for me 4 ex-bats coming tonight  and if I can borrow an incubator a chance of some eggs as well.
Now I am well and truly hooked. |
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Pekinout
Joined: 29 Apr 2008
Posts: 1196
Location: Cornwall
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry to hear about your randy rooster. Good luck with the exbatts. |
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