can a freerange flock split into 2?

[Chickiemom25]

Definitely agree. Even if you don't want to cull, sell them. That's just my opinion though. Most of the time they'll make it an easy choice of which ones to get rid of. I keep the best behaved and either sell or eat the rest.

When they are older I may have to do that, for now, the boys are all well behaved

 

[chicks are life]

Good thing they are well behaved

 

[aart]

So far the boys are all behaving civil.

How old are the cock/erels?

 

[Chickiemom25]

New females will be repelled by previously acquired females. Leghorn harem master may try to incorporate new females but I doubt if he will succeed. The barred rock satellite male already courting new females will like try to define his own territory and the new hens will be attracted to it my the barred rock but not repelled by previous females if barred rock's territory is separate. I assume birds have at least a couple acres to range on that also have cover patches for each potential territory.

Having separate roosting sites will stabilize new social groupings.

If area too small and simple you will have one rooster in charge after a few days. I would not bet on Leghorn being the long-term boss.

They have my 15 acres plus 75+ acres next door of cow pasture. there are multiple natural water sources as well as the waterers in the coop. Leghorn just matured sooner than the BRs. LH was crowing at 8 weeks and the BRs at 4.5 months are just beginning to crow. but the BRs are twice the LH size. the BRs keep a distance from one another I have noticed. No fighting, just seem disinterested. Maybe they are teaming up to drive the LH nuts trying to be everywhere at the same time. Either way, the BR has room for he and the 2 new hens to wander away from the existing flock if they choose. I'll put up some boards to roost in the run when I turn the new girls loose, just in case there are issues in the coop. It is 8lX4wX5h with 2 8 foot roosting poles.. There seem to be plenty of room on the top pole still. and one BR roo has been banished to the lower roosting pole.

 

[Chickiemom25]

How old are the cock/erels?

4.5 months

 

[centrarchid]

They have my 15 acres plus 75+ acres next door of cow pasture. there are multiple natural water sources as well as the waterers in the coop. Leghorn just matured sooner than the BRs. LH was crowing at 8 weeks and the BRs at 4.5 months are just beginning to crow. but the BRs are twice the LH size. the BRs keep a distance from one another I have noticed. No fighting, just seem disinterested. Maybe they are teaming up to drive the LH nuts trying to be everywhere at the same time. Either way, the BR has room for he and the 2 new hens to wander away from the existing flock if they choose. I'll put up some boards to roost in the run when I turn the new girls loose, just in case there are issues in the coop. It is 8lX4wX5h with 2 8 foot roosting poles.. There seem to be plenty of room on the top pole still. and one BR roo has been banished to the lower roosting pole.

They will not use the entire 15 acres. Cover is the resource that needs to be dispersed. A couple feeding stations would help, especially if a couple hundred feet or more apart.

 

[Chickiemom25]

They will not use the entire 15 acres. Cover is the resource that needs to be dispersed. A couple feeding stations would help, especially if a couple hundred feet or more apart.

they have plenty of trees. I have 8 apple trees plus a lot of crape myrtles and a few hardwood. their favorite is the crape myrtle right next to the fenced area for the dogs.. They really know how to torment the dogs. they also tend to wander to the front porch ( which doesn't make me happy) but they like it.

 

[abraga]

I used to free range my chickens years ago and had several acres and several roosters. The chickens pretty much evolved into natural behaviors.They all split into separate groups. Each roo had his own hens. Usually my young males stayed with the " family" group for a while..then the roos would run them off so i also had a bachelor group. I had the bantum Cochin breed. These chickens never had a coop...slept in the trees. Once in while I'd have a couple roosters dispute over a flock..but for the most part..the younger hens would eventually end up with a young roo. If there was an issue with predators..all the roosters would sort of band together and squawk and carry on to harass the intruder..then go back to thier flocks. All if these birds were distantly related...my family...we still talk about that chicken society...it was really interesting LETTING them do thier thing naturally

 

[rIrs roost]

They have my 15 acres plus 75+ acres next door of cow pasture. there are multiple natural water sources as well as the waterers in the coop. Leghorn just matured sooner than the BRs. LH was crowing at 8 weeks and the BRs at 4.5 months are just beginning to crow. but the BRs are twice the LH size. the BRs keep a distance from one another I have noticed. No fighting, just seem disinterested. Maybe they are teaming up to drive the LH nuts trying to be everywhere at the same time. Either way, the BR has room for he and the 2 new hens to wander away from the existing flock if they choose. I'll put up some boards to roost in the run when I turn the new girls loose, just in case there are issues in the coop. It is 8lX4wX5h with 2 8 foot roosting poles.. There seem to be plenty of room on the top pole still. and one BR roo has been banished to the lower roosting pole.

They will not use the entire 15 acres. Cover is the resource that needs to be dispersed. A couple feeding stations would help, especially if a couple hundred feet or more apart.

x2 my two roos and all the hens here have 80acres to roam but they all choose to stay on the same two acreas. And none of the roos would leave that two acres no matter what. All three were getting along. I thought that I had it made untill the one roo got to about a year old. Thinking that I had nothing to worry about I left and when I come back a few hours later. The young roo had almost killed my lead roo. Hopefully you dont have that problem and ive heard some that hasn't had an issue. Just be prepared to make a tough decision if necessary. And never trust a roo no matter how nice he seems. I've made that mistake once and that was enough lol. Those spurs hurt if they catch you right.