Bachelor Flock Problems

[HeatherKellyB]

I have 3 separate flocks that are close to each other but kept separated at all times. My bachelor Flock that consists of our 3 very first chickens (all cockerels) have always been together since hatch. They free range during the day and are locked up at dark. They were hatched mid May 2019. There are 2 Cream Legbar-Black Copper Maran crosses (one is the leader of the flock and the other is at the bottom of the flock order) and 1 Barred Plymouth Rock (obviously he is the middle guy). At some point today while they were free ranging unattended (like usual) the Barred Rock took a beating. I've looked him over the best I could and he has a very bloody comb and wattles and lost a patch of feathers behind his comb. They're just starting to get spurs and the 2 Marans crosses both had blood around their spurs. The low guy on the totem pole seems to be fed up with Le'Shawn (BR) and they've had a few fights since the major one that I missed. The head guy always jumps on Petey (Low Guy) even when Le'Shawn starts it, from what I witnessed tonight. It's obvious that Le'Shawn isn't 100% and I know he is MAD but he is still going at Petey if he just breathes wrong. The head guy is having to jump in to stop the fight because Le'Shawn can't finish what he starts this evening. They've never fought like this. Of course the lower two have had tiny spats and showed their hackles to each other but it's never resulted in any injury. In your experience, have you found that my guys will be able to get past this or is this the end of my peaceful Bachelor Flock?

This pictureddoes not show the extent of his wounds. Do the wounds I described sound like a cockerel fight? At first I thought it was another animal but the more I watched the 3 of them together and then getting to check him over up close made me think this was a fight between the boys. The head guy was trying to clean Le'Shawn up too, so I don't know that he was involved but he did have dried blood on his spurs. He's been a great (not perfect of course as he is still young and learning) guy leading the others and worries about the other flocks anytime he senses distress, even though he can't get to them but they're only separated by fencing. Any advice or suggestions? I guess I'm hoping that they will get past this with no human intervention, but I can't let this continue if they are going to be a threat to each other. Thank you for your time

 

[azygous]

Roosters have a pecking order, too, and it gets a shakeup every so often. The trouble is, roosters have more of an opportunity, due to their equipment, to inflict considerable damage on one another.

If this is just a regular resettling of the social lineup with the boys, they should carry on normally after they figure out their ranking. If this is going to be a problem, on the other hand, you will see more skirmishes and fresh wounds. Then you will need to assess the situation and take action.

Just because cockerels were brooded together doesn't mean they will always be best buds. I had two cockerels brooded together that spent every day for several years trying to kill each other. It only came to an end when one was killed by a visitor's uncontrolled dogs.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Roosters have a pecking order, too, and it gets a shakeup every so often. The trouble is, roosters have more of an opportunity, due to their equipment, to inflict considerable damage on one another.

If this is just a regular resettling of the social lineup with the boys, they should carry on normally after they figure out their ranking. If this is going to be a problem, on the other hand, you will see more skirmishes and fresh wounds. Then you will need to assess the situation and take action.

Just because cockerels were brooded together doesn't mean they will always be best buds. I had two cockerels brooded together that spent every day for several years trying to kill each other. It only came to an end when one was killed by a visitor's uncontrolled dogs.

Thank you for your time in reading and replying. This makes me feel so much better! I worried I was being cruel by not separating them. This definitely shows me that it would be cruel and inhumane to attempt to add 3 more cockerels (2 silkies and 1 bantam cochin) to this unstable bachelor Flock. For now while I am still working out my options for all 6 boys, I will continue to keep a very close eye on them. Hopefully they'll work out their pecking order soon so they aren't all so miserable. Even the lead guy is a wreck trying to maintain any type of stability. I do feel bad for the bottom guy as it seems the middle guys just doesn't understand that he has been defeated. The leader jumps on the bottom guy for defending himself. It's a sad situation but I keep reminding myself that this is chicken politics and their way of life. Thanks again, for everything you do. You're the best

 

[cmom]

Just curious why you have all of the males? Are you going to use them for breeding? When My male's hormones start to kick in I separate them from the females and put them in bachelor coops and pens. There has been some times when one male would get picked on by the other males so I removed the male being picked on. If you have a game camera you can put up to keep track of them? Here are some of my males.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Just curious why you have all of the males? Are you going to use them for breeding? When My male's hormones start to kick in I separate them from the females and put them in bachelor coops and pens. There has been some times when one male would get picked on by the other males so I removed the male being picked on. If you have a game camera you can put up to keep track of them? Here are some of my males.
View attachment 1982413

Definitely no plans to breed the big guys (almost 31 weeks old) that are in this Bachelor Flock. The more I think about breeding the boys in the "baby flock" (not really babies at 17 & 18 weeks), the more I realize that it's not a good idea because I will be in this same position every time with the 50/50 sex of hatch. I thought about the protection a cockerel/eventual rooster will provide to the pullets/eventual hens, and how they oftentimes can keep the flock more peaceful and running smoothly. My flock of 5 laying pullets are doing just fine without a male leader but they're still young at almost 27 weeks old.

To be completely honest, I have the 3 boys in the bachelor Flock because I haven't been able to cull/process, plus the leader of that flock has shown promise in possibly being a great rooster, but of course I am always alert to the possibility of human aggression. I just need to stop going back and forth and do what I need to do. Problem is that I am not sure about what I need to do. I'm trying to put everyone's best interests into play but that's rarely ever possible.

 

[cmom]

I hatch out a couple hundred+- chicks every year and around half are cockerels. I do grow them out and pick out one from each of my chosen breeds as a future breeder and sell the rest. It helps to recoup some of the feed costs. I can't keep them all. If you do decide to breed, pick out the one you want to use as a breeder and sell the rest. I have one main male for each of my breeds and a backup in case something should happen to one of the males so I will always have a breeder for that particular breed. I don't know if this will help but if you are close enough to one of these swaps maybe you can sell some. If a predator wants chicken it will usually succeed whether you have males or not. I know from experience. There are always exceptions but generally the predator will take any bird it can catch, male or female. Again good luck and have fun...
https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/North_Carolina_Swap.html

 

[cmom]

My birds are not pets. I raise them for eggs and to show at poultry shows. I have processed some but now I mostly sell my extras. I can't tell you what to do but only suggest. Keep you best male and sell the rest. If you have a swap meet near you, you can probably sell them there. I guess since you don't have many birds the cost of the feed to feed them is not an issue. I go through 300/400 pounds of feed weekly, so for me it helps. I recently sold the last of my extra males. After the holidays I will be setting up my breeding pens and getting ready for my 2020 breeding season.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

You have some very handsome boys! Thank you for your time and advice. I do appreciate every bit of help I get. My birds are pets. I spent a lot of time just watching them after working today. Apparently the Barred Rock is being a total jerk and wants to take charge of the flock. He simply can't admit defeat as he is sneaking up on both of the other guys to attack since he can't take them in a normal fight. Sneaking up isn't helping him win either as the other 2 are overtaking him at every attempt. All 3 boys seem pretty nervous and miserable. There really is so much more to learn than anyone new to chicken Keeping could imagine. It's a lot to take on in the beginning. I see exactly why so many people suggest that newbies wait until they've had pullets/hens for a while before bringing in any guys.
Edited to clarify that for me this has been difficult. Learning all of this Cockerel stuff on top of the other chicken keeping things is a lot for me when I've already got a lot going on. I anticipated that I had a lot to learn, but adding the boys later would have been more ideal.

 

[Folly's place]

I've always had cock birds in my flock, and many learning experiences along the way. You are having them right now!
It's best to do what's best for the group, and that can mean eliminating individuals who don't fit in comfortably. Your cockerels are showing that peace likely ain't gonna happen easily, and I think removing some of them will be best.
You can build more pens, add to your freezer, or find that auction, or craigs list. There's a weekly auction near me, and I will take birds there, discuss them with potential buyers, and move them on. And, we have a big freezer.
You could send them all away, or keep one, and see if he works out for you. By now, human aggression may be evident if it's there. The trick is being able to ID it, which takes experience. Birds don't just want to rip you apart overnight! Pick one who looks good, will compliment your females, and avoids you most of the time.
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I currently have 32 chickens, including two roosters and three cockerels, who all live together and free range when possible. Nobody's fighting, everyone is getting along fairly well. If problems crop up, as in spring when their hormones are up, I'll take whatever actions are necessary. Meanwhile, the three breeding groups all mingle, and only one has just one cockerel (fate!) rather than a rooster and a spare.
Mary