Someone on Freecycle has offered me a cockerel - I am right aren't I - I really don't want one

[KatyMac]

It sounds lovely 'Perkin Lavender' DD will name it if I even mention to her it has been offered

But the risk of noise & baby chicks are too great aren't they

& if we have chicks - DH will want to eat them

I can't cope with that much 'country'

Does it really say Perkin Lavender or is it a typo? I'm sure they mean Lavender Pekin instead.

If they have the breed name wrong I'd be a bit worried about the quality of the bird IYSWIM. I'd be sure to quarantine it for 14 days if I did accept it, just in case he brings new disease to your flock.

You can manage the chick thing by making sure you collect eggs daily - they'll only turn into chicks if a hen gets to keep them warm for 21/22 days.

We have a cockerel called Dave and he is noisy - that's just what they do. I certainly wouldn't consider having a cockerel if I had neighbours.

But, on the up side, he is gorgeous and looks after his ladies so very well. And I can incubate some eggs and make chicks if I fancy!

ps. pekin lavenders are v, v pretty

No they spelt it right "Pekin Lavender"

I live on a council estate so lots of neighbours

I couldn't cope with chicks - DH would assume they were for eating

I have one bantam cross & I want two more

But I am struggling - I was promised one & then the foxed killed the whole flock, I was promised another from someone & it fell over & died

But my poor hen must be lonely

Don't take it.
The cockerel will mate only with your hen and she might just become miserable. Hens do not need cockerels and often do better without them.

No you don't - noisy and potentially a bit agressive - and unproductive!

(mind you, farmer next door has a cockerel who is not a morning person - he crows at about 9:30am )

My cockerel was not safe with the DC, they can seriously injure.

My cockerel was not safe with the DC, they can seriously injure.

you are probably not allowed a cockerel anyway, we live in a town centre and we certainly aren't - they would crow at 4 am in the summer !!

Call your council and I bet they say you're not allowed - chicken yes, cocks, no.

You would only get chicks if you didin't collect the eggs every day and had a broody hen.

I have twoo and they are very noisy from 3am onwards in the summer.

I didn't think you could give livestock/pets away on freecycel.

Well I am doing a wanted on Cheapcycle actually

I am quite prepared to pay for them but I am struggling to find some

Katy

There are lots of breeders in Norfolk - have a look at this link

chooks

And you're right. Your hen must be very lonely. I'd sort it as soon as I could! Good luck.

this one is quite close

But it's still a fair drive away

Put your hens on the pill and buy your neighbours some earplugs.

Pekins are actually fairly quiet crowers, I'd check him out before you make a definite decision and I'd make sure you hear him crow first too. Pekins are really tiny, smaller than most bantam size.

I am not sure a cockerel is a good thing to have with one hen. He needs a flock of hens surely?

He might taste OK though. Its a free meal after all and in these difficult recessionary times a free meal is a free meal.

I couldn't eat him

Never mind - I said no already