2 Roosters ..... Best way to integrate them?

[Tacswa3]

I have a black Australorp rooster that is about 10 months old. He is housed with 12 hens.

I also have a Light Brahma rooster (big and will get bigger) about 5-6 months old. He has 5 hens.

I want to add all together. What are the chances these 2 roosters can co exist? 17 hens and 2 roosters. I have 8 chicks and will be adding 4 more when they are old enough.

 

[HuskerHens18]

I have 4 roosters coexisting which were introduced at different life stages. another flock has 2 roosters as well.

Fighting is normal, but I never let them fight very long so it doesn't escalate out of control. One rooster will have to submit and accept being lower than the other one. I really like the see-no-touch method. Put one rooster in a cage/separate area, where they can see and get close to each other, but unable to harm one another. Once in the morning and once at night, let them interact for about 10-15 minutes while you watch. When you notice things improving(less sparring, allowing each other to eat side by side) you let them roost together overnight, but be sure to check on them early in the morning!! You'll never want to leave them alone together unsupervised very long during the day at first.
It could take a week, or a month before you see improvement, every rooster is different.
Free ranging them together during the day is a great way too, as there is plenty of open space. I will do this from day 1 if I can. In the coop though one needs to be separated until they learn to coexist.

 

[Tacswa3]

So far they free range separately and depending where they are both at, they have seen each other. The smaller flock is in a chain link fenced area. The large flock is open range.

I can tell you right now, I don't have the time to supervise roosters at certain times during the day.
I appreciate all your advice. I gots some thinking to do.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

I have a big coop with two roosters and x number of hens. There is an attached run(split) with another coop at the opposite end and a chicken sized door between the two. I raised the chicks in the smaller coop until I thought they were ready to free range (two roosters in this batch, as well) When they were let out, everyone was together and they were left to their own devices to figure it out. I kept it that way for a few days and opened the blocked door between the runs. I never had any major issues. I work all day and couldn't supervise, but I wouldn't have. I'm not saying my way is the right way, it's my experience.

I did the same thing with a separate coop: when they were ready to range, they were let out. In this case, hoping the old roosters would teach the new one. Not going to lie, we're still working on that

Hope that helps. Or if you have any questions, please ask!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Also, I think it helps when a rooster has his own hens.

 

[Tacswa3]

Yea I'd like to join them all because I need the smaller coop with my chicks that are up and coming. They are 2 weeks old now. Time is running out.

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Have they been around each other at all?

 

[Lazy Dimond Farms]

Have a Silkie rooster who has 9 hens. I bought two roosters an just threw them in from the time I arrived at the farm. The rooster I currently had immediately started attacking them. It took about a month an he has learned to just deal with the other two. When the two newer ones crow the original one will attack them once in awhile.

 

[aart]

I have a black Australorp rooster that is about 10 months old. He is housed with 12 hens.

I also have a Light Brahma rooster (big and will get bigger) about 5-6 months old. He has 5 hens.

I want to add all together. What are the chances these 2 roosters can co exist? 17 hens and 2 roosters. I have 8 chicks and will be adding 4 more when they are old enough.

So all cockerels and pullets(see below)?
Start by ranging them all together.
How big is the coop(dimensions and pics please) you want them all to use?

Might be better to get a third coop/run for the chicks if you don't have time to at least observe and intervene if things get really bloody.
Or get rid of one of the cockerels, not sure what you goals are.



FYI.....semantics, maybe, but can be important communication terms when discussing chicken behavior.
Female chickens are called pullets until one year of age, then they are called hens.
Male chickens are called cockerels until one year of age, then they are called cocks(or cockbirds or roosters).
Age in weeks or months is always a good thing to note.

 

[Tacswa3]

Have they been around each other at all?

A little, small flock free ranges in a fenced area. Large flock free ranges outside of that. They have seen each other through fence.