Can roosters get along?

[deidreschultz]

We bought 8 "hens" well out of 8 hens we got 2 roosters. And of course we love them ALL. 1 rooster is a silkie the other is a rhode island red. the silkie is very laid back. the guy we bought them from said they would do find together. we have a fairly large house and screened enclosure. will they be okay together or will they fight.

 

[Mydnight]

I don't know if this will help, but I have 8 roos in with my 9 hens and they do fine, only one got pecked, but when we removed just him, everyone is fine. Of course, I just have bantams, so I don't know about the others. Someone else should be along presently to give you a better idea.

 

[chicknmania]

They will probably fight at first but probably it will be no big deal. And then they will get along. We have ten roosters and they all get along; they just have a pecking order, but lots of times they will free range together and actually can be friendly with each other; even share the hens. If they are both about the same age and are growing up together, that will help, too. We have had a couple cases where a roo got bloodied but those were cases where several other roos ganged up on one. Just keep an eye on them, til you know.

 

[jemagsy]

We have three roos and we did have problems once the two younger ones hit adolescence with some mating and territory issues (who got to mate etc). It got to where the girls were stressed out all the time, so we built a separate pen for two of the roos (it's quite nice), and left our bantam buff brahma w/ the girls. The two roos do quite well in their "no hen pen" and very rarely raise their hackles to each other and we have had no real fights since moving them. Mind you these two roos were raised together from one day old (they were supposed to be females). I know most people recommend no more than 1 roo to every 8-10 hens at a minimum and that has certainly been our experience. With just two one may dominate and take over and not let the other one mate. Don't be surprised if it's your Silkie, our bantam was definitely in charge of the other roos and he's the gentlest of the three towards our family.

Best of luck and hope they can do well together!

 

[hensonly]

I had the same thing happen to me - paid the extra for all pullets, got two roos out of fifteen chicks. My boys get along fine, they mate in front of each other, sometimes one right after the other on the same hen, but they don't fight about it.

HOWEVER, I have eleven hens and the two boys, and my poor girls are naked from the continual mating. A couple are actually spending so much time on the roost where they feel safe that they are getting thin. They were fine last fall, but now they're a year old and the boys are in full swing with mating. I've been trying to find a home or homes for the boys, with no luck so far. I absolutely must get at least one of them out of there before one of the hens is hurt by the spurs on her bare skin - not to mention, they'll need feathers before winter comes again, and they're not having a chance to regrow them.

So yes, the roos may well get along, but if I read your post right, you don't have nearly enough hens to keep two roos satisfied safely. From what I understand you may not have enough hens for one rooster. I was told last fall, and didn't listen, because everything was fine at the time. Well, it's not fine now, I have stressed, naked hens and two roosters I can't find homes for. Please ask the more experienced folks about your hen to rooster ratio, I'd hate to see you wind up in the same situation I'm in!