Bloody 5 week old roos

[Tab P]

Hi--I know this is an old thread, but were you able to salvage the situation at all? I'm in a simiar predicament. I have six half-game chicks, 5 weeks old. Today three of them decided to kill each other. I intervened in time, but all three were bloody, and one significantly so (lost all his head feathers). Their mother is a very good rescue game hen. They free range and forage all day, with chick feed several times a day. I can't think what made them go crazy like this.

Eventually they stopped fighting (a couple of days later), I guess they were able to figure out who was the alpha rooster. Weeks later, I rehomed all but one of them, and have had no problems since.
Btw, I didn't keep the alpha, I kept one in the middle of the rooster pecking order, he was friendly enough to not attack my grandchildren, but also he was just "mean" enough to protect from predators, and had the best manners towards his lady friends. Hope yours have worked it out among themselves as well by now.

 

[Wild Iris]

Eventually they stopped fighting (a couple of days later), I guess they were able to figure out who was the alpha rooster. Weeks later, I rehomed all but one of them, and have had no problems since.
Btw, I didn't keep the alpha, I kept one in the middle of the rooster pecking order, he was friendly enough to not attack my grandchildren, but also he was just "mean" enough to protect from predators, and had the best manners towards his lady friends. Hope yours have worked it out among themselves as well by now.

Thank you so much for responding!

Over the last week, I separated my fighting three and periodically re-introduced them (multiple times) until the fighting stopped. They still have short bouts and stand-offs, but nothing like the first time. I'm not yet sure which is the alpha, since the boldest personality is also the one who was beaten the wost.

I'm very encouraged to know that one of your fighters still turned into a good, mannerly rooster! Hopefully I will be able to say the same, before long.