Can 3 cockerels live peacefully together?

[MaryZoe]

I've always kept several roosters, sometimes hatch mates, sometimes not. They figure out the pecking order pretty quickly and so far with minimal violence. The only problem I have had is when I have more than 2 out at a time with my ladies. When the second or third roo tried to mate with any of the ladies, one of the others would knock him off. So my fertility was compromised. Since then I keep only 2 roos out at a time. The others are in a bachelor's pad. I rotate their play time. It works fine, as long as my King Roo is always out. I love my roos!

 

[Momma*chicken]

Do you mean the cockerels are Mille Fleur D'Uccles? I don't think that would be the best choice to protect a flock.
I ended up w 3 cockerels this year. I sold 2 at the poultry swap at 3, then 4 months of age due to too much chaos. The lower ranking boys didn't fight back with the dominant one, but they'd try to get away with mating attempts and there'd be reckless high speed chases. The pullets were being harassed continually. As I said, chaos. Now there's peace in the valley. Nine ladies of various ages to one very responsible and diligent 6 month cockerel.

We originally wanted a full size but couldn't find any. We never expected any of them, not even full size, to actually "protect" the girls. We really just wanted an alarm really. Even a full size could get seized by a fox. When predators ARE around, they r more likely to be alert, and warn our girls, which would b quite noisy, so we would hear it as well. They r more likely to be on the look out so the girls can forage easier.

 

[cmom]

They can live peacefully if theres no hens. You would have to set the boys club and girls club. ^.~

When my males get to be around 3 to 4 months old they go into a bachelor coop and pen. Usually once you separate the males and females for me seemed to go better. The males pretty much get along with each other as long as there are no females and the same with the females without the males interfering. Once in awhile, the males especially, may pick on one male. I remove the one being picked on and all is good. This is how I deal with it as they will still have to figure out their pecking order. Good luck and have fun...

 

[Criticalicious]

Two of my BCM pullets turned out to be cockerels, which made my ratio 3:2.The two roos were the friendliest in the bunch, my first batch of baby peeps ever that I raised by hand, so it was hard deciding what to do. I even lived in denial that they were roos for a few weeks, and I lost sleep trying to decide whether to build a bachelor pad. With a bachelor pad I could have backup roos and an early warning system, but it was just too much work right now to build and feed a second coop for 2 roos who might never get to breed.

From 4-6 weeks, the boys had some scuffles and it seemed like sometimes they'd face off just for fun but I never saw blood, and then they settled down and got along just fine. But that was before puberty set in and I read too many horror stories of roos ganging up on girls and mating them to death.

So I found a new home for the 2 boys who seemed to get along best with each other and kept the third. I'm fairly certain the one I kept was 3rd in the pecking order. He's always been the calmer one. He's always treated the sandbox as a nestbox, cajoling the girls to come join him. He's now starting puberty and although he's challenged me a few times, so far I've been winning him over with treats. I have 3 more pullets in QT right now, so eventually Basil's harem will have 5 girls. Hopefully that's enough. Maybe next year I'll build a bigger coop.

Throughout all this, I tried to keep in mind WHY I have the chickens in the first place and stay true to that. I decided to get chickens for pets that make eggs, to help with composting and pest control. The well being of the pullets is first and foremost. Sadly, roosters are easy to come by and if eggs are the goal then we don't need one. In which case, the decision becomes a little easier.

 

[SueT]

although he's challenged me a few times, so far I've been winning him over with treats.

Most if not all of the BYC pundits warn against giving treats to roosters/cockerels as this can encourage aggression. They recommend that you make them stay out of your personal space at all times, using a stick if necessary, to re-inforce your dominance. Roosters that attack see you as subordinate and you want to nip this in the bud or put them in the crock pot. Here's a good article with practical wise advice:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/beekisseds-rooster-speak.73664/

 

[Birds of a Feather]

Sometimes a separate rooster coop where they can't see any hens can help roosters get along. I have a bantam rooster in a pen with only 6 hens, which hasn't caused any problems.

 

[Momma*chicken]

Yeah, it looks like I am going to have to get rid of 2 cuz we r definitely not building a separate coop... Too bad

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

Yeah, it looks like I am going to have to get rid of 2 cuz we r definitely not building a separate coop... Too bad

I say, give em' a chance to sort things out on their own first before finding new homes for them! Like I said, just let them have a go at it...... maybe the fight will last a few minutes, but once a winner comes out of it, the losers will always tuck tail from that day forward and the pecking order will be set. Just let them deal with it in their own chicken ways!

 

[Birds of a Feather]

If they're a more docile breed like Millie Fleur D'Uccles, they might be able to get along in with the hens, though. I personally would wait and see if they aren't fighting too badly now.

 

[Momma*chicken]

OK thanks for all the help everyone!