I started with a few chickens, then chicken math happened, and of course some chicks grew up to be roosters. The bachelor coop was ok but I wanted every Roo to have some hens of his own, so a 10x20 coop became a 5 section coop with a big predator proof run also partitioned accordinly. So...when I 1st let them out to free range, I did so in groups & started with groups already furthest apart, not right next door to eachother, so they kinda ranged in their own directions instead of trying to all flock up. I was out there gardening with them, so I saw what went on, & who got along, & who was ornery. For the most part, each group stuck together, pecking & scratching for bugs, making their way around. A few did run over to the other group, but if there was a squabble with hens, most times the hens would quickly run back to their own groups. If a pair of Roos got into a squabble, I'd intervene, scooping up 1 Roo while using my leg & foot to shoo the other towards his own group, and just kinda wave the groups away from eachother. I'd just wave arms, no mealworms or treats, because if you go tossing treats to a certain group to entice them to go a certain direction...All Groups Will Come Running...then ya have a real free-for-all brawl, so don't use treats. My flock knows my waving arms, I use that every night to shoo them into the coop, so they know they're being shoo'd, to the direction I shoo them. At first I had to use snow sticks, til they got the hang of what arm shooing is. I also have 3 coops now, so it is funny letting them all out now. After several times of free ranging, all 13 of my separate groups can be out at the same time now, without any issues. Last year, Only 1 young Roo would like to stir up trouble, so if he did that, I'd wave him & his group back into their pen. They quickly learned, if you raise a rucus, you're going to get a time out with no free ranging. He is now a congenial Roo. They are pretty smart if you just show them what the deal is. Of course, some Roos may enjoy showing off their kicking spur abilities too much, & in that case, you'd have to range that group by themselves. My 1 Barred Rock was like that, so in his spunky youth, he could only range alone with his own hens. As he got older, he chilled out, so at about 3 yrs of age, he could free range at the same time as everyone else, he just took his group the furthest from everyone else, pecking around outbuildings & giving the other groups stink-eye. You may have some birds that are just not peaceful personality-wise, so you just have to see who is who, & range them accordingly. Hope this helps.
