Silkie PULLETS & COCKERELS together WHEN???

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Sun May 08, 2016 8:59 am

Just curious ~ do you house your pullets & cockerels together?
I'm trying to make room for chicks I hatched 2 weeks ago.
I had to put the 5 month old cockerel with the 3 /12 or 4 month old pullets

The girls have been screaming blue murder, so every morning I separate them until nite.
But I think that it makes Him more frustrated being alone during the day.
( my cuddles don't seem to make him feel better - LOL )

In about a week I will Have to move the chicks to that pen.
Means the girls will be with him Full time.
Are the girls too young to be with him?

Thanx for your input!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sun May 08, 2016 9:20 am

If the girls are screaming, they are getting chased and possibly hurt, so yes, they are too young.
5 month is about optimum age to combine different flocks, you want to give those girls enough time to develop physically to take the weight of a clumsy struggling practicing cockerel, there is a risk of broken wing or collarbone that you have to consider, when making your decisions.
Good luck.

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sun May 08, 2016 10:22 am

PS, went for a walk with the dog, wore down filled coat, gloves and a hat and was absolutely freezing, while the the dog was looking at me accusingly

but remembered the most important thing I forgot to mention, to keep the cockerel separate and reasonably happy the pullets have to be out of his sight. There is your challenge for the day

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Thu May 26, 2016 2:15 pm

2 weeks After my thread I put my 2 1/2 yr old hen with this rooster.
He was extremely rough & was ripping feathers out of her head.
She was being compliant & squatted for him right away.
( Millie is experienced in Amore )
He continued to Jab @ her, & i'm guessing it was frustration.
Didn't look to me like he was successful.
I put him back in solitaire until today.

This time I had the 2 blue silkies pullets & the 2 1/2 yr old Blue SG hen.
I put milk crates around so the girls would have spots to get away if needed.
AGAIN he terrorized them & was Extremely rough & pulling out head feathers.

ANY ADVICE?
He is a Good looking guy & I would luv to keep him ~ "IF" I can make it work.
"IF" he isn't going to be ready for Months, I must put the SG hen with another rooster.
I was hoping to have some more Blue Showgirls...but "Blackula" is being Difficult!!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Thu May 26, 2016 2:55 pm

I have come across this before too, and giving the male a benefit of the doubt at 5 month, didn't like his attitude towards the hens, separated him, put him back at 10 month, same behavior, separated him again and although I really liked his color and type, eventually decided not to use him, because he was obviously not maturing in any appreciable way.
I guess I expect a certain behavior in the flock, and brute force isn't really what I am looking for in a flock sire.
Interestingly, when I put in the Senior male, who the girls haven't seen since last year, they were so excited to see him, I thought they were going to smother him, and the flock has been peaceful ever since. So they can tell the difference

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Thu May 26, 2016 2:59 pm

Some roosters are extremely rough and never change, be prepared your hen's and pullets will have all or most of their crest feathers pulled out and missing feathers from their back till they are bare. They eventually learn their job and become less aggressive but in the meantime the hen's suffer.

Poultryprincess · Post by **Poultryprincess** » Thu May 26, 2016 4:08 pm

Thanx Kenya!
I have been searching the web & found some interesting info today.
Seems that since he is an Adolescent he may be rough & clumsy until he figures it out.
He is SO handsome that I will give him more time to "learn it"
I was Positive that Millie would fix things, but guess it's now Yet.

I will give him more time alone & let the girls get calm again.
I can't have the girls running & screaming away from him.
I Put him in another room so he can cool his heels a bit.
Fingers CROSSED that he gets better @ the deed!!!!

kenya · Post by **kenya** » Thu May 26, 2016 6:29 pm

I think he needs to see them but not be able to touch them so he learns to coax them closer and not be in such a rush. That's what I would try, some though never change, could always try A1 though to keep the girls prestine. You should see my poor black Silkie girl, her crest is almost gone now but she can see much better and seems more interested in her environment. So I guess some advantages for her, but she's not the beauty she used to be.