Fighting Cocks

Although some bantam cockerels are reknowned for their ferocious fighting, even the most placid of cockerels will fight to win the hen of his dreams - or to keep his harem safe from other cock birds - when the spring sunshine puts the birds in the mood for love... So beware! Cockerels that have grown up together and spent the winter living in a mixed community might very well take on what seems to be a completely new character as the mating season begins, and will need to be quickly seperated.

Bantams Starting to Lay

The warmer than usual spring has brought bantams in to lay early this year. Our silkies and pekins have been laying steadily most days since the last week of February. Personally, I think that these early eggs are best used for a tasty meal, rather than being set, as fertility rates will only just be starting to rise. It is, however, time to make sure that breeds are seperated to keep chicks pure bred. Remember bantam and chicken hens will remain fertile for 2 weeks after mating , so they need to be kept in with their own cockerels for two weeks before eggs can be known to be pure.