Can roosters ever be succcessfully integrated?

[magentamomma]

I apologize if this should go in flock management, but here goes. I have a really good Buff orpington 10 month old roo. I was just given a really nice hand reared Plymouth Rock roo about the same age. I put them together but stayed as an impartial UN type observer, and it didn't work. So I put the new guy in acage in the pen so the others could spend the day watching him. They are both such exeptional Roos that i don't want either to end in a stew pot. My question is, have any of you ever put two roos together and had it work? It worked for me introducing a banty, and the 2 I had that were raised together did fine. Would it work to take them both out and isolate them away from the flock (and eachother0 for a while and then reintroduce them to the flock? or would they always fight. I am not trying to be idyllic, and i will try to find him a new home if the concensus is that it won't work. Looking for advice. thanks.

 

[cw]

how many hens
but i think sneakin 1 in, in the middle of the night would be best
i also believe there will be some fighting no matter what you do

 

[Emzyyy]

At one point I had 18 birds. 9 Hens and 9 Roos they all got along fine but I ended up having to get rid of some roosters because my dad disliked the crowing. There is gonna be a little fighting no matter how much you don't want it, as long as it isn't real bad bleeding sort. As long as one runs away first it should work.

 

[magentamomma]

They were both bleeding. I have 15 adult large breed hens, a dozen 4 month old pullets, and 3 banty hens and 1 banty rooster. I have so many hens or almost hens that the 2 roos would improve fertility. However, and its a big however, i don't know if the en is big enough to let them go their own seperate ways. Its a bout a 25x50 ft enclosure. My fear about sneaking him in at night is what about in the morning? Before i get to the coop will they kill eachother. And honestly will roosters fight to the death or will someone back down?

 

[dacdeihl]

I snuck a roo in with 12 hens this fall not thinking of anything but wanting a roo. Nothing happened bad but it sure straighted out some bad hens pecking on others.

 

[chicktwit]

Mom has had some that fought to the death. Some fight till there's a dominant roo. Especially in the spring there would be skirmishes. My australorp was the most tolerant. Domineering but allowed them to live. It's hard to say what's going to happen for sure. Good luck.

 

[Sir Birdaholic]

I have introduced many different roosters to my flock over the years,& my 6 year old EE is still Cock of the walk!

 

[jhm47]

They will fight, there will be a little blood, but I doubt that they will fight to the death. The "game" type roosters would kill one or the other, but the breeds that you have are not usually that determined. One or the other will eventually back down. Put them together and leave them alone. It will be hard to do, but nature will prevail eventually.

 

[magentamomma]

jhm47......thanks for the advice. Its hard because I am pretty new to this and these two roosters are both pretty neat guys. I hope someone backs down because i would love to keep both, and I think it would vastly improve my flocks fertility.

 

[silkydragon]

lol im always getting new roos either where somebodey plucks the feathers that give it away as a roo or my dad cant tell the difference i lock them up in a big enough pen they can get away if need be but are basicly stuck in same room as other roos.... integrating roos actually gos easier then integrating hens for me some reason i have mean hens and gentle roos i have 5 roos and 10 hens and almost never have fights and never had blood drawn in the 1yr ive had them all free range and stay pretty close mix of bantys and standards