Can i keep multiple roosters?

[emicoo]

I got 5 chicks and 2 of them turned out to be roosters. They’re almost 6 weeks old now and have been together since they hatched. Right now I have no issues with them they seem to get along fine, but will this change? Is it possible to keep them both if they aren’t fighting? They have lots of space and free range in the day.

Second question - i have 4 baby chicks which are 2 weeks old now. I believe one of them is a rooster. Is there any chance I can introduce them to the older flock, or would the older roosters go after them right away? Was hoping because they’re all so young I might be able to introduce them. But Maybe not…..

 

[fluffycrow]

You could...but with amount of females, and especially if this is your first flock, I wouldn't. Keep one. They're still young and will remain peaceful for some time. But they will establish a pecking order between them at some point

 

[fuzzi]

I got 5 chicks and 2 of them turned out to be roosters. They’re almost 6 weeks old now and have been together since they hatched. Right now I have no issues with them they seem to get along fine, but will this change? Is it possible to keep them both if they aren’t fighting? They have lots of space and free range in the day.

Second question - i have 4 baby chicks which are 2 weeks old now. I believe one of them is a rooster. Is there any chance I can introduce them to the older flock, or would the older roosters go after them right away? Was hoping because they’re all so young I might be able to introduce them. But Maybe not…..

I had a 7/3 straight run, and aside from some neck grabbing and chest bumping (normal) I kept the 7 cockerels together in a 16'x8' run. I did rehome four of them at 14 weeks, then another at 16 weeks. Right now there are 2 cockerels and 7 pullets, no issues. Hopefully that will continue.

I added chicks that were six weeks younger but had to keep them separated for several weeks, in a "see but can't touch" arrangement. They're integrated now.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The problem with answering this is that no one can tell you what will actually happen or even when something could happen. We can tell you our experiences, we can tell you what might happen, but some people are able to keep multiple roosters and some cannot. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not.

Right now you don't have roosters, you have baby chicks. They should get along until puberty hits. That might be as young as 11 or 12 weeks, it might not be until they are 5 months old. One can start puberty months before the other. When they hit puberty they will determine which is boss. That might be so gentle you never notice, it could be a fight to the death, or anywhere in between. Usually it does mean fights and often fairly serious fights. They might be able to work out an accommodation and work together to protect the flock. Since yours free range it is possible they will each claim a territory and attract whatever girls they can but leave each other alone. Or they may fight to the death.

As far as integrating you can try as soon as they can all handle the weather. It may work out great or it may not. Some people have great success with that age difference, others do not. They may merge into one happy flock or they may remain in two separate flocks until they mature. The older may attack the younger. What I'd expect is that they either merge into one flock or the older pecks the younger when they invade their personal space and the younger quickly learn to stay out of their personal space. But it is also possible some of the younger chicks could be killed. You never know what will actually happen.

My normal suggestion is to keep as few boys as you can and still meet your goals. Why do you want to keep them? What are your goals for those boys? I don't need to know but it might help you decide what to do. I don't believe in any boy-girl ratio but I do believe the fewer boys you have the less likely you are to have problems.

 

[Mrs. K]

What is a lot of space for chicks, can rapidly become not enough space for adult birds. People getting started, tend to have smaller set ups. Roosters IMO take more space than pullets.

Being raised together has very little influence on chickens. Space and temperament is much more important. The odds of 3 cockerels and 6 pullets are not real good. Cockerels or roosters do not understand the concept of sharing hens, they each want all of them.

I agree with Ridgerunner, the more cockerels you have the larger the chance of it going wrong. Personally I would want 25-40 hens and the space for them for 3-4 roosters.

If this is your first flock, I would let all of cockerels go out of your flock. If you have children under the age of 6 I would emphatically recommend removing them from the flock. They tend to attack children first, and small children at face level.

IMO this will work until it doesn't. What I would expect to happen is that the cockerels will pursue the pullets relentlessly. The pullets lives will be miserable. The cockerels will become sexually active long before the pullets. Do you have older hens to teach the boys some manners? If not, they often become bullies. IF you try and keep them, get a plan B set up and ready at hand. A fishnet, a dog crate, leather gloves, a power hose- ways to separate fighting birds.

Most inexperienced people vastly underestimate the violence of a cockerel. They can fight each other, or attack the pullets, or attack people. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people

It is hard to believe when they are so darling now. But the hormones are powerful, and often times totally changes their demeanor. I would expect it to start showing problems between 12-16 weeks, but could be any time

Mrs K