Cockerel advice please

[Glutton4...]

OK, OK, I know I said I wouldn't EVER have a Cockerel, but, well, let's just say one may be needing a home, and he is gorgeous, so I though I'd ask the 'font of all knowledge' for your collective advice.

I know I'm sooooooo gonna regret this, but here goes;

When I put all my Chooks together in a couple of weeks there will be 43, all female. Is that sufficient to keep one Cockerel happy? They'll have a net covered earth run surrounded by 'Heras' type fence panels, so it will be around 9m x 9m. It will have leccy fence round the outside of that to keep the foxes out, and a netting ceiling to keep the rooks/crows/pigeons/maggies/jays out (It's too expensive to feed them too). Also, added to this they'll have a grass area surrounded by electrified poultry netting. This can be moved to give access to better grass and rest other areas.

Shall I get him or not?

I think I'll make it a Poll...

Thanks all you lovely peeps

[Polly Fouracre]

Do you have neighbours? If so, find out if they will object to early morning alarm calls!! Or you can do what I do and put my cockerels in a box at night and let them out at a "civilised" time in the morning.
Also, he may become aggressive towards you in which case keeping hens becomes a nightmare instead of a joy. And, if you have small children think very carefully, a fully-grown rooster can injure a small child!

[Nicos]

Not that I know that much about them apart from what I've read.
I was esp interested as I have 2 cockerels and wondered how it'd work out.

From what I recall it seemed that each lad is best suited to about 8 ladies. Fewer ladies and they get a bit too 'bothered' by the lads. Any more and the lad gets utterly exhausted by trying to serve them all
I have 7 ladies and 2 guys and they do sort of split into 2 groups.

I suppose it depends on the temperament of the guy?
I utterly love my lads- they are really quite different from the gals and I would aways have a cockerel .
Are you able to take him and see how things work out on the proviso that if there is a problem then he can be returned.
Things are never the same in practice as they are on paper!
Yup- I'd go for it

...does he have some brothers to go with him- they're less likely to fight if they're brought up together.... 3 or 4 would be an education!!!!!

[Hilary B]

Good advice there. Check with the neighbours, and consider the temperament issue carefully. Some cockerels are wonderful for quite a while, and then suddenly get aggressive (although with 43 ladies, he may simply be too tired to bully you OR crow!)

[HayleyB]

I know you'll have 43 but..... senario coming up...................

what if he just bonks his faves and they're the ex bats and they die OK I know BUT it could happen if he's fussy.

[Nicos]

Can they die of bonking???..cor what a way to go young man young man!!!

I suppose they may have problems carrying his weight if they have weak bones from excessive egg laying??? There's a thought

[Glutton4...]

Do you have neighbours? If so, find out if they will object to early morning alarm calls!! Or you can do what I do and put my cockerels in a box at night and let them out at a "civilised" time in the morning.
Also, he may become aggressive towards you in which case keeping hens becomes a nightmare instead of a joy. And, if you have small children think very carefully, a fully-grown rooster can injure a small child!

Nearest neighbour that side is a three-odd acre paddock away. The neighbour out the front, a field away has chickens and cockerels.

I don't have children (ghastly thought ) but I know first-hand (or should I say feet and beak ) what a Cockerel can do to a child my folks had one when we were small and it would attack on sight. That's why I said I'd never have one. But I've cured my life-long fear of Geese by getting some, so I thought ...

Good advice there. Check with the neighbours, and consider the temperament issue carefully. Some cockerels are wonderful for quite a while, and then suddenly get aggressive (although with 43 ladies, he may simply be too tired to bully you OR crow!)

I was hoping he'd be too tired, but that's why I asked the question in the first place, as I know there's loads of Grapes who keep them successfully.

I know you'll have 43 but..... senario coming up...................

what if he just bonks his faves and they're the ex bats and they die OK I know BUT it could happen if he's fussy.

Trust you! I hadn't thought of that.

Can they die of bonking???..cor what a way to go young man young man!!!

I suppose they may have problems carrying his weight if they have weak bones from excessive egg laying??? There's a thought

EXCESSIVE egg laying - I wish!

[vicky]

(fantastic use of multi quote!)
I'm voting yes....we all know you will get one anyway!!!!!

[motherhen]

Be very careful what can seem like a serene picture can turn into mayhem!! Unless you are going to breed, then what is the point, he will send your hens broody.
If you are going to go for it, take a few birds away and give him some to play with, rather than upset the whole flock.
I also agree with HayleyB if they have fav's they will bonk them more, the trouble is they tend to be the poor little hens at the bottom of the pecking order that get more attention, and are too weak to fend him off!!!

[Nicos]

EXCESSIVE egg laying - I wish!

I was thinking of the exbatts

I'd go with the idea of separating him with say 4 or 5 gals if that's poss?.
You know you'll be tempted to hatch a few of the eggs- so watch your numbers if you intend to stay below 50!

[tlck9]

did I not read somewhere that if you sell your eggs you mustnt have a cockerill in ith them, even from the garden gate?

[dexterdoglancashire]

I'd go for it. I was SO sorry that I had to let Fanny go, as we live on an estate and I couldnt have him making a noise. I was VERY happy that OverWyreGrower was willing to give him a new home - and a lovely one at that.

[Glutton4...]

Be very careful what can seem like a serene picture can turn into mayhem!! Unless you are going to breed, then what is the point, he will send your hens broody.
If you are going to go for it, take a few birds away and give him some to play with, rather than upset the whole flock.
I also agree with HayleyB if they have fav's they will bonk them more, the trouble is they tend to be the poor little hens at the bottom of the pecking order that get more attention, and are too weak to fend him off!!!

That's the sort of response I was hoping to get! Someone who knows, or has, at least, thought it through better than I have!

I have to confess it was a 'No' until I saw a picture...

[Eco-Chic]

Oh he's gawjus. Yes, of course you must get him.
I'd like to vote another couple of times so you could get two more

I've not heard of anything whereby you can't run a cock with the hens if you're selling eggs at the garden gate.

Even if they're fertilised there won't be any embryos unless they're brooded.

[Bephlam]

Gorgeous!

My cockerel is sooo friendly...and placid. He also hardly crows...at present - probably because his competition has gone to live with hilly!!