Can Game Bantam roos live in harmony w/out 8+ hens a piece?

[luluvantuckett]

First I'll start with my spread.
I live in the country with about 2 acres. My coop is 8'x5' and 8' tall. They free range in my fenced back yard, which is about 140 square feet. I really try to let my animals live as naturally as I'm able to. Meaning, letting them free range and live like their ancestors did. (I'm certain their ancestors ate packaged dried mealworms and lived in an 8' tall coop.)

Ok I'm going to try my hardest not to be confusing here.
I have 3 Cockerels that are right at 12 weeks, and were hatched and raised together. I also have their dad, an Old English Game Bantam, AND I just discovered that my 23 week old Cochin is not a pullet (

) but a cockerel. So I have 5 roos out of a flock of 14. That makes 9 hens, but only 4 are mature right now.
The biggest of the OEGB cockerels, Colonel Sanders, has started fighting his brothers. I've separated him and all is back to normal. Actually I've noticed that when I let him out the other two go for him. I know they have to establish the pecking order, but I don't want to come home to a dangling eyeball or two dead roos.

Soooo....
I was wondering if there were any suggestions on keeping the harmony here while keeping these guys happy. Ive noticed that all of these guys and gals have their "clicks" or groups of about 2-3. So I was thinking of setting Colonel Sanders up in a nice pen for now. Maybe with a couple of ladies. (??) Would I be able to let him back out? I want to get him his own territory with his own ladies where he can still free range and all is good. Maybe make him a smaller coop on the other side of the yard??

I really have tried to wrap my mind around culling him... But I feel like I have enough land that I could figure something out. I haven't had to do it to any chickens yet. But I'm not apposed to it. I just reeeally don't want to

Here's Colonel Sanders... isn't he handsome? I think his mother has a little silkie in her cause she has 5 toes and is a little toppy. They all got her 5th toe.

 

[RJSorensen]

For me, if they were raised together, or in the case of your 'prize' rooster, raised with him around, I would just let them work it out. As long as they know each other, they have some idea of where they belong in the order of things. The teenage boys are going to flex their wings and bump chests, as they mature the 'need' to be the top roo and thus the breeder is something you will find very difficult to do. There is no guarantee someone won't get an eye put out… but in my experience they won't fight to the death if they know one another. The younger birds know they are a rung below the Colonel Sanders (for now) but between the lot of them, well it would seem that that position is not set as of yet.

Keeping differing pens, for the sake of a roo, is something I no longer do. You are certainly welcome to do so, but I suppose you will arrive at the same place I am at. Culling is not something to be done for not, unless you no longer favor the bird, let him live. At some point he may have to move down in the order, that well be as it will be. People can not really change what the birds do by instinct. So I favor standing pat, letting the chests bump and unless someone is being murdered, let them sort it out. The sooner it is decided the sooner you will have peace in the flock.

This is only for birds whom know one another. An outside bird and an inside bird will fight more than we wish, there may well be blood. I introduced a new rooster today, I had to remove three to the rooster jail, however they were all raised together, thus they can be penned together.

I hope this helps and explains my thoughts of this, only you know what is right for you and your birds,

RJ

 

[luluvantuckett]

For me, if they were raised together, or in the case of you 'prize' rooster, raised with him around, I would just let them work it out. As long as they know each other, they have some idea of where they belong in the order of things. The teenage boys are going to flex their wings and bump chests, as they mature the 'need' to be the top too and thus the breeder is something you will find very difficult to do. There is no guarantee someone won't get an eye put out… but in my experience they won't fight to the death if they know one another. The younger birds know they are a rung below the Colonel Sanders (for now) but between the lot of them, well it would seem that that position is not set as of yet.

Keeping differing pens, for the sake of a roo, is something I no longer do. You are certainly welcome to do so, but I suppose you will arrive at the same place I am at. Culling is not something to be done for not, unless you no longer favor the bird, let him live. At some point he may have to move down in the order, that well be as it will be. People can not really change what the birds do by instinct. So I favor standing pat, letting the chests bump and unless someone is being murdered, let them sort it out. The sooner it is decided the sooner you will have peace in the flock.

This is only for birds whom know one another. An outside bird and an inside bird will fight more than we wish, there may well be blood. I introduced a new rooster today, I had to remove three to the rooster jail, however they were all raised together, thus they can be penned together.

I hope this helps and explains my thoughts of this, only you know what is right for you and your birds,

RJ

This is incredibly helpful. That's actually what I wanted to hear. I'll let them work it out. I've had him separated for two days now and I'm going to put him in the big coop right now.
I've had to fight my "motherly" instincts to interfere so many times before with the flock establishing the pecking order and I'll just keep it up. They don't have their spurs yet, and there's actually more activity going on with a new mother hen kicking the butts of the rest of the flock because I just let her and her new babies out in the yard.
Letting them be is going to be waaaaay easier than killing them...

 

[RJSorensen]

You are certainly more than welcome. I 'cull' when needed… but I do hate to do so. Thus it is seldom done unless there is no other way around it. A bird keeper needs to have the steel to do that what needs to be done. Regardless as to what it may be. But I think a reprieve may be in order with this one. I'll certainly feel better if things do work out for you and your birds.

RJ

 

[luluvantuckett]

Well I let them all out this morning and no arguments. The other two cockerels are actually being submissive. Whew!

 

[RJSorensen]

I believe that all birds in a flock know their place, it is just sometimes the younger ones feel the need to test the waters. Good news delights me, you may have a few more squabbles to live through, but let them work it out. That works out best for everyone involved.

Best to you and your birds,

RJ

 

[luluvantuckett]

Thanks so much RJ!!
Colonel Sanders thanks you too.

 

[RJSorensen]

I am beyond delighted that this has worked out for you, thus far. Sometimes strangers can meet on the web, in a nice place like BYC and share experiences. I know it took some 'faith' in my reply and you had to do so going against what you perceived needed to be done. A little insight can go a long way, if given in and at the proper time. I thank you for your trust… I always try to take the posts with little or no responses. Which is how I came to read your thoughtful description of your situation. I try to not +1 or other such. I like to take a crack at some of the harder problems, ones that you would need real world experience for. I am certainly not an expert, in anything, but I have let my birds teach me some. I've given up on trying to teach them…

I think you are doing great, plus you are thoughtful and kind, your birds are blessed by the care you give them. Can not do any better than that. Colonel Sanders hopefully will live a long and dignified life around your place.

Late for me and I've chores to do in the morning, my best as always to you and your birds,

RJ