malantone Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 My mate dumped 6 cockerels in our release pen, my question is when the poults go in will they be safe or will the cockerels start bullying. the pen is 460yds in circumference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 Get rid of them as they will bully your young poults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmateX Posted May 6, 2014 Report Share Posted May 6, 2014 They are also a disease risk to your poults. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted May 7, 2014 Report Share Posted May 7, 2014 Had exactly the same happen to me a few years ago. Not a problem at all, no bother with the poults. As for disease, in this day an age the poults are more likely to give disease to the cockerels! Just like they do to the wild partridge! Another useful thing about them is that they are a bit expendable, so if they are out ( mine jumped the wire quite quickly) and when one gets nobbled by a fox then you know you have something to keep an eye on/ deal with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted May 22, 2014 Report Share Posted May 22, 2014 We've had a couple of Cockerels in our pen all last season and they're still there now ready for this season. No problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted May 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Get rid of them as they will bully your young poults. They are also a disease risk to your poults. do you two gentlemen have personnel experience of your comments Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 (edited) Have been a keeper for many years and reared and released in excess of 30 000 birds (per season) on one shoot in particular. I haven't had cockerels in the release pens but have had them bully young poults and try it with adult birds on many occasions where they have come into contact with each other. A lot of this is dependent on the age and type of cockerels I would imagine as I would think younger birds that haven't reached sexual maturity won't bother poults as much as an older, territorial bird. I used to have 9 release pens on one estate and at least 4 of them were within range of a tenant farm with free range hens and the cockerels were an absolute nightmare. It's your pen and your choice but personally I wouldn't do it. P.M me if you want a chat about it. Edited May 24, 2014 by r1steele Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malantone Posted May 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 Have been a keeper for many years and reared and released in excess of 30 000 birds (per season) on one shoot in particular. I haven't had cockerels in the release pens but have had them bully young poults and try it with adult birds on many occasions where they have come into contact with each other. A lot of this is dependent on the age and type of cockerels I would imagine as I would think younger birds that haven't reached sexual maturity won't bother poults as much as an older, territorial bird. I used to have 9 release pens on one estate and at least 4 of them were within range of a tenant farm with free range hens and the cockerels were an absolute nightmare. It's your pen and your choice but personally I wouldn't do it. P.M me if you want a chat about it. you know what your talking about then, Thankyou Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
r1steele Posted May 24, 2014 Report Share Posted May 24, 2014 you know what your talking about then, Thankyou I'm not saying the others are wrong because obviously they have had different experiences but I wouldn't mix them as I have seen problems on more than one occasion. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Berettacocker Posted May 25, 2014 Report Share Posted May 25, 2014 Unless they're going to help your poults in any way, why have them in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KFC Posted May 27, 2014 Report Share Posted May 27, 2014 I would qualify my experience with what r1steele has said. Although we've not had a problem with the cockerels in our pen, it does depend on the breed. Some can be extremely aggressive and territorial so I would recommend some caution. I remember when I was a kid, many many years ago, we used to play in a field that had a smallholding at one end. The cockerel there was out of its pen and would not let us through the gate into the field where we played cricket. I went and got my Mum to sort him out. My Mum tried to drive it back into its pen but it flew at her and pecked her shins and slashed them with its spurs. Scarred her for life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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