Seperated chooks today.........

[Snadger]

And not a moment too soon.

I spent all morning sorting out a home for my four latest hatchling Laydees, one of which layed its first egg today!

They were in with three cockerels from the same hatch, a young Cream Legbar cockerel of a similar age that I found a home for and a mature cockerel six months older than the rest.

As you can imagine, five cockerels and four laydees just approaching maturity was a recipe for disaster!
They are now seperated, although, when I can catch him I may put the Cream Legbar cockerel in with them with the hope of eventually getting some fertilised eggs to set and see if I can hatch a few blue/green/olive egg layers.

I'll leave the laydees by themselves for a while first though until all four come into lay hopefully

[Suechooks]

Spoilsport!!!!!

[Snadger]

Spoilsport!!!!!

Feel guilty now!

With this in mind I risked life and limb to capture Cream Legbar cockerel and save him from being intimidated by an older cockerel...............who proceeded to attack me because I was rescueing his 'playmate'.
After chasing him arround the run, grabbing him by the tail,whilst fending off other cockerel witrh a stick I finally got him esconsed with his four new Laydees.
He hasn't shut up with his high pitched juvenile cock a doodle do's since!!!!!

[Suechooks]

See - you've made one young lad VERY happy!

[RichmondHens]

I've got six young men who are ready for the chop. We have decided to keep two of the cream legbars as they are both so gorgeous and unrelated to our older CL hens (guess what I'm going to be hatching next year ...... ). The other four will be dealt with as soon as the children go back to school. The lucky ones will get a small harem to share - can't wait to see their faces!

[baldrick]

dont suppose you know anyone interested in a splash silkie cockerel do you? Waiting to hear what breeder wants to do with him as dont want to cull as he ia tame. Only thing he had a respiritory infection when i gothim. Its gone now but i have to be honest as it was probably myco according to thw vet. Im prepared to travel.

[RichmondHens]

If he definitely had myco then you shouldn't be considering passing him on at all, except returning him to the breeder who most likely will cull him as you can't breed from myco infected birds, although chances are that's where it came from in the first place.

Harsh as it may sound, you really only have two options, either to cull him or keep him as a pet.

[baldrick]

he arrived sick and the breeder is still breeding. No swabs taken. Treated for resp infection. She has advertised him. Id rather pass him on to someone who knows his history and who has had resp infection in their pet flock already. Hence my attempt to be honest instead of just allowing his breeder to stick him on preloved or whatever. To be fair she is trying to help. Im not prepared to kill a happy healthy bird who may possibly have a disease that is rife in back yard flocks. Id rather find someone with birds with a similar history and give him a chance. I cant keep hm as a pet. That is why im trying to rehome him. Its not about my convenience. I take responsibility for my animals for life. There are definately people on here who have had a resp infection in their flock. If any of them are able or willing to help id be really grateful.