Think JCB with feathers
We have a problem, too many cocks. Since we hatched 9 of @maz0 eggs, we now have 4 cockerels. We have 13 in the flock, so 2.25 girls per cock. It should be at least 4 to 1 to avoid the girls from being worn out and the cocks from fighting each other.
There's several solutions
Initially we are going to try option 2. We are picking up four ex-battery hens on Saturday.
- get rid of a couple of the 4 cocks so there's a 4.5 ratio - problem is that our daughters have grown attached to all the chickens
- get more girls we would need 7 more, possibly more as some of the 4 older girls will probably kick the bucket soon.
- a combination of the above
That will bring the ratio up to 3.25 girls per cock. As the cockerels are still young and have grown up together, I think that will be fine through winter, we shall see how it goes.
A neighbour knows of a cockerel rehoming centre, so at a push we may get rid of one cockerel that our daughters don't mention as much as the other 3, or we may just get another 4 girls next year. A neighbour that initially wanted a cockerel, changed their mind, that would have been an easy option.
Cheers
Andy
I concur. we dont bother with a cock these days, as we dont breed. first one wouldnt let you through the gate. Nasty dam thingMy two options would be. Swap the cockerels for hens from other breeders or eat them
remember as a kid going in to the tool house on uncles farm 55 years ago and got atacked by a cockrell in there i whacked it one and it came back for more .i told his son inlaw what had happened and he laughed . he said watch this grabbed the bird and put it in with another one christ it was like world war 3 pulled them apart and said there fighting cocks son . had never heard or seen it till thenI concur. we dont bother with a cock these days, as we dont breed. first one wouldnt let you through the gate. Nasty dam thing
Because of the bird flu situation, we have to separate the flock from wild birds. Seems there has been a few cases in Yorkshire and a friend's flock has died from an unknown disease in the last couple of days, and she's about 3 miles away. Her flock is too small to warrant testing so not conclusive but better be safe than sorry. The kids would be devastated if we lost ours as they raised them from chicks. Plus I am looking forward to poached eggs on toast in the new year. So today we have rehoused them in the polytunnel while I build a secure run on the side of their chicken shed. it will be going in this gap.
Yes, they contacted Defra and they deemed there small domestic flock was too small to warrant testing.Did they contact the relevant helpline?
I would be very surprised if DEFRA weren't interested. Contact numbers can be found on this page - Avian influenza (bird flu) - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We usually just eat them. It saves us eating the hens, who provide our eggs. The wife is getting quite good at processing them now. I got her a killing cone which makes it much easier. They have a great life before the pot so I don't feel too bad. Just remember rule #1, don't let the kids name them