M&Ds new garden visitor

[plocket]

This wonderful chap has started visiting M&Ds garden and LP has named him Cocky!! Any ideas of his breed?

[The witch]

No idea P - but he's a fine looking chap
What time does he start crowing in the mornings?

[4pygmies]

He's beautiful isn't he? I'm not sure which breed - maybe a Rhode Island Red or a Barnvelder? Mrs B has kept more breeds than me, so I think she'll know. I tend to stick to the utility breeds and no cockerels - had a nasty Grey Holland cockerel once that I was sold as a female chick - horrid he was - used to attack me every time I fed him. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you! He came to a sticky end on the farmers plate next door - and serves him right!

[plocket]

He woke OH and I at about 6.00am on Sunday morning and he's got quite a voice!!! I think he's from the free-range egg farm down the road - he was certainly responding to two other cockerels during the day when we were gardening - one up the road and one down the road. LP loved watching him, but he wouldn't let her get too close.

Hopefully Mrs B will spot this and might know what breed he is. We don't need to know but it would be nice.

[debbiem]

He's magnificent! There are so many breeds with cockerels with those colours so I must admit I cheated and got my anorak chicken book out and also looked up a few breeds on websites but I still can't be sure. I think he's either a New Hampshire Red, a Partridge Orpington, a Welsummer maybe but I think he's a bit too rounded to be one of those, a partridge Wyandotte or Plymouth Rock. Or a Red Sussex? Why isn't he looking after his ladies?

[debbiem]

He also looks very much like a Copper Headed Maran cockerel too. Just found a picture of a fatter Welsummer, he looks like one of those too. oh heck, he looks like everyone!
But Red Sussex he isn't....

[The witch]

He certainly looks like a Copper-headed Maran Cockerel Mrs. B - www.dtbcentre.co.uk/maran.htm

[plocket]

I think there's another cockerel looking after his ladies Mrs B!!! He was certainly shouting back at the farm down the road, but a cockerel up the road was joining in so we can't be sure where he came from. Mrs P at the farm down the road is totally free-range - the chickens go where they want so maybe he fancied a stroll, but he's been at M&Ds for quite a few days now.

[The witch]

Perhaps he is feeling in need of some R & R ;D

[debbiem]

Hope he's behaving himself and not going a-scratching where he ought'nt.

He does look like a Copper Headed Maran, The witch, but out of the list he also looks very much like a New Hampshire Red, and a Welsummer, and a ....oh no here we go again....looks like he's enjoying his sojourn in M&D's garden, and is laying low from the others, wanting all the pickings to himself.

[sweetleaf]

Perhaps he lost his harem to a more aggressive bird, and is looking for a new one?

[debbiem]

Oh bless! Could be.......all revved up with no place to go.

[sweetleaf]

You definitely need some Chicks Mrs B!
I would, but I`d have nowhere to keep them, and I get regular visits from Mr and Mrs Fox. Some people are allowed to keep them on the lottie but we arent, the council has banned all livestock

[plocket]

I'd love to have chickens but we aren't allowed here.

There isn't much to scratch in that part of the garden - mum and dad call it the wilderness as it's mostly trees, brambles and stinging nettles. Luckily dad is now starting to tackle the area and is clearing the brambles and stinging nettle shoots, and this weekend we planted some hazel whips, some guelder roses and some hawthorne - he did order some damson trees but the supplier ran out so they didn't get any. Anyway Cocky certainly found lots to munch as he was strutting about which is perhaps why he keeps visiting!

[debbiem]

It sounds great - and I think if Cocky had a way of marking out the territory as his he would do!

Sweetleaf - what a rotten council, but ours are just as bad but in other ways. You name it, they've been called it!!!!!!

[plocket]

So how do cockerels mark out their territory then Mrs B? I know about cats spraying but the mind boggles when it comes to cockerels!!! ;D

[plocket]

I'm not a chicken expert as you all well know, but could he be one of these:

www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens&breed=Buttercup

www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens&breed=Nankin

It's a fab site but looking at the pictures I think the Orpington is too pale and the Welsummer is too dark. I'm rather taken by the regal looking Sebright!!!

[debbiem]

Oo-er, I don't know how cockerels mark their territory, but if there was a way I think Cocky's used it in M&D's garden. I've only ever seen them 'running' other cockerels out of town if other boys get too close to the girls. I got the impression from the picture that he was one of the larger breeds instead of a Bantam though -back to the drawing board!

[debbiem]

If it's OK with you Plocket I'll have a go at copying the photo onto a poultry forum I still belong to and ask the members there for an ID, that's if I can work out how to do it. I seem to have copied it successfully, the rest is yet to come.........

[4pygmies]

I'm intrigued now and so I've been looking in my breeds book and I think Mrs Beige got it when she suggested New Hampshire Red. That's the only one I can find which matches.

[The witch]

www.ansi.okstate.edu/poultry/chickens/newhampshirered/index.htm

[plocket]

I think you are right - I think it's a New Hampshire Red - sorry, HE!!!!!

[debbiem]

Ok, Mesdames et Messieurs, here are the results from the Practical Poultry Magazine (so Far);
one vote for Welsummer
one vote for New Hampshire or Rhode Island Red
one vote for Cocky on his own merit as someone would love to have him
last vote up to now - this voter's not sure where to put their vote as they have lots of cross breds who look more or less the same with the same colouring.

Back later with more votes.

[plocket]

How exciting! Thanks for keeping us posted Mrs B - it's almost like X-Factor!!!!! ;D

[The witch]