Rooster Brawl

Happy Ending.

Especially for the roosters

marcus connor said:

Happy Ending.

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as long as the rooster that is loose can't get to the penned bird through wire you should be fine, if you don't make any mistakes. If they are truly mixes you never really know what they will do. I have raised plenty of roosters. All games are individually penned. I have had as many as 15 roosters out together all full grown, not games. It's not for everyone. I like roosters though. Gotta have patience. Switching roosters out will get old after awhile and a mistake will happen and you will have an injured bird. You would be surprised how many roosters you can keep together as long as they can't see any hens. I don't recommend trying it though.

roosterhavoc said:

as long as the rooster that is loose can't get to the penned bird through wire you should be fine, if you don't make any mistakes. If they are truly mixes you never really know what they will do. I have raised plenty of roosters. All games are individually penned. I have had as many as 15 roosters out together all full grown, not games. It's not for everyone. I like roosters though. Gotta have patience. Switching roosters out will get old after awhile and a mistake will happen and you will have an injured bird. You would be surprised how many roosters you can keep together as long as they can't see any hens. I don't recommend trying it though.

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You have your opinions I have mine.

marcus connor said:

You have your opinions I have mine.

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I'm not trying to argue with you. I currently have two roosters in the same coop, they sleep next to each other on the roost. I'm not saying that you can't keep em together even. I decided on only keeping these two out of over 20 non game breeds for my free range flock. These two were the best with the hens, and didn't fight each other. All of the others would run down hens and we're just overly rough. Its difficult to distinguish a good rooster though when you you have them competing for the same hens. Good luck and watch em closely.

krista74 said:

Ah, I had wondered if there might be a difference between game and 'regular' roosters.

So perhaps keeping one penned up at all times (or even both penned up separately) might be a good idea then.

Thanks @jldward
.  I am learning something new every day!

- Krista

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We actually keep ALL roosters of age penned all the time, my boyfriend's games or my layers. Sometimes we have game roosters out on tie cords where they can't reach each other. The only things we let run free are hens, pullets & males of varying ages that are to young to fight.

@roosterhavoc is correct...roosters will pen fight. I have a patched pen from an occasion where a rooster got put of one pen & fought with his neighbor enough to break thru the wire & they were then able to actually full-on brawl. I think we ended up losing one of those. I think regular "layer" roosters aren't that bad, but I still prefer separating roosters. Pens containing roosters should be a little bit away from each other (even if only a few feet) or if adjacent, have a solid divider, at least the bottom half.

I had 2 Mille Fleur Leghorn roosters with 4 hens raised together from chicks. I finally had to separate them into 2 trios because 1 rooster was harassing the other. On the other hand, I have 2 Lavender Orpington roos together with a few hens & have seen no problem that I'm aware of. I was turning out several pens of layers at a time with little to no conflict once my Welsummer roo went away (he fought animal & man).

I am feeling rather lucky that I only have 1 rooster and don't have to deal with such problems

He generally seems fairly good, and for the most part the flock (8 hens, 3 pullets and the rooster) get along fairly harmoniously.

I was very fortunate that I was able to re-home my cockerels when I hatched my chicks.

- Krista

krista74 said:

I am feeling rather lucky that I only have 1 rooster and don't have to deal with such problems 

He generally seems fairly good, and for the most part the flock (8 hens, 3 pullets and the rooster) get along fairly harmoniously.

I was very fortunate that I was able to re-home my cockerels when I hatched my chicks.

- Krista

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Yeah, multiple roosters can be a pain, especially games.

You asked earlier about roosters being rough on hens (or with?). Personally, chicken sex just always looks violent to me :/ but, yes, some roosters tend to be rougher on hens than others, whether chasing them relentlessly or when actually topping them, & that applies to any breed as far as I know.