New Cockerel comes to live on the farm

This week a new cockerel came to live on the farm, he makes cockerel number two. The first being a Derbyshire Red Cap who didn't meet breed standards for a breeding group and the new addition, a Rhode Island Red who came from a lovely home but was perhaps just one cockerel too many after a recent hatch.

I hadn't been on the lookout for another cockerel but as it happens he came at just the right time. I've been planning on having a go at hatching some chicks soon, as it turns out my favourite laying hen I ever had was a Rhode Island Red. The new cockerel is a beautiful colour and has a very shiny coat of feathers. I'm told his name is Dolly and if I start calling him when he gets used to me he'll come running over. I did of course check him over before he went to live with his flock of hens, the last thing I want is to introduce illnesses or problems to my new laying flock. He had a very mild case of lice which is to be expected with chickens that enjoy the outdoors but one lice bath later and he was ready to go.

The hens immediatley rushed over, what a new exciting element this was to their routine and continuously followed him around for the first few days. I'm happy to say he's not so much of a novelty now and they don't pester him as much.