Dominant Cocks

[Diamond Dave]

I will be splitting my birds in 3 or 4 weeks time and am a bit worried because I havr a couple of dominant older cocks that I know won't let the younger ones settle into a box of their own. Im sure Im not the only one and wondered how do you guys deal with this problem......

[Andy]

I will be splitting my birds in 3 or 4 weeks time and am a bit worried because I havr a couple of dominant older cocks that I know won't let the younger ones settle into a box of their own. Im sure Im not the only one and wondered how do you guys deal with this problem......

I’ll be splitting mine probably tomorrow. I am putting the new cocks I want for widowhood in the widowhood section. I do have a couple of cocks who have 2 boxes at present. But I think once the hens are removed they will settle for one. Might take a day or 2 as the new ones won’t know where to go and will almost certainly be left with the lower boxes. But will hopefully sort themselves out fairly quickly. I some would move the old cocks out and shut their boxes up. That’s alright if you have a section for them temporarily but I haven’t. Never really had much of a problem in the past.

[Tony-P-]

Now this is something new to me again fellas.

when you are saying your splitting the cocks from the Hens what's your reasons for this and do you split them now until you pair up for breeding.
Also are you still letting your birds loft fly or have you stopped them now ?

[Wiley]

The best way to introduce your young cocks into your old bird section is by closing the boxes of the old cocks and removing them and letting the young cocks choose their boxes for a couple of weeks. Then introduce the old cocks back on.

[Andy]

Now this is something new to me again fellas.

when you are saying your splitting the cocks from the Hens what's your reasons for this and do you split them now until you pair up for breeding.
Also are you still letting your birds loft fly or have you stopped them now ?

Tony. The reason for splitting the cocks and hens is for a couple of things. Not everyone does but most do. They are split to stop the hens from laying constantly during the winter, although a lot will stop anyway. Once split it gives the birds a chance to settle and finish their moult without worrying about a mate. Also gives you the chance to sort out the nest boxes for any new birds entering the old bird team, usually young cocks from that year. And to allow selection of a different mate for the following year when the time comes. Yes they will be split up now until pairing up next year. For my widowers that’s Boxing Day.
Once split mine will only go out very occasionally if at all.