Can roosters live in side-by-side pens?

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

I know this may be somewhat specific rooster to rooster. But can they share a fence? If not, how much space is recommended between fences?

I currently have 2 flocks but am adding more. When my second flock started up, they were in a temporary set up next to the main flock. Temporary turned into longer than planned and I had 2 roosters fighting side-by-side.

The pens had approximately 14-18” of space between them. There was lots of eyeballing, but they only attacked the fence during moments of excitement- a reluctant hen squawking to escape a roo- or first thing in the morning when they were super hormonal.

When the 2 flock were let out to “free” range (big flock in large backyard, little flock in large front yard), the roosters would fight through the fence. The fence is a wire garden fence, the kind with maybe 3x4” ish grids.

The flocks had plenty of space to avoid each other and not even see each other, but the roosters often fought at the fence and would scratch their legs up on the fence.

We’re currently planning a group of breeding pens. We’ve been planning them around the idea that roosters can’t share a fence and will need either visual blocks or space between runs.

When I look at pictures of breeding pens online, it seems common to have a dog kennel style set up with multiple runs going side by side.

So what gives? Are my 2 roosters just particularly contentious, and maybe my future roos will ignore each other? I don’t want my roosters spending all day trying to fight the neighboring roo, but it sure would be easier to build these pens if they could be side by side.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It is individual to the roosters. Most can be housed next to each other without problems and others just like to spar through the fencing. You could always add a barrier if necessary or just cull the roosters that fight and keep the peaceful ones. If you are breeding than there's always more to choose from.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

We had a bachelor coop with over 10 roosters. There was fighting but it was not anymore then hens fighting for pecking order.

 

[FrostRanger]

You can always put up a tarp or something on the shared fence so they can't see each other if that's a problem. If they can't see each other all they can do is have crowing matches

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

It is individual to the roosters. Most can be housed next to each other without problems and others just like to spar through the fencing. You could always add a barrier if necessary or just cull the roosters that fight and keep the peaceful ones. If you are breeding than there's always more to choose from.

This is good to know. I always felt that the one younger rooster instigated most of the fence sparring. So maybe future boys will do better. Thanks.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

We had a bachelor coop with over 10 roosters. There was fighting but it was not anymore then hens fighting for pecking order.

I’d like to start a bachelor pad, too. Were any of your bachelor roosters former flock leaders? I want to remove my current top rooster from my big flock. I want new blood plus he’s been a little less than friendly with me a few times lately. But overall hes been a good rooster for almost 2 years and he’s Hubs favorite. So I’d prefer not to soup pot him. I’m just not sure how he’ll adapt or if he’ll continuously pine for his girls and try to get back to them. He won’t be able to see them, but we don’t have that much space so he’ll hear them and know they’re there.

 

[Fluster Cluck Acres]

You can always put up a tarp or something on the shared fence so they can't see each other if that's a problem. If they can't see each other all they can do is have crowing matches

I figured this was a good backup. We’re thinking about putting the grow our own between the breeding pens, too, to create more distance.

 

[Eggs_Over_EZ]

I’d like to start a bachelor pad, too. Were any of your bachelor roosters former flock leaders?

None were lead rooster in the bachelor pad. That was a Barred Rock gentleman named Colonel (my husband sick sense of humor) who never attack and was very polite to his hens. What we did is once cockerels got to be several months old we placed them in the bachelor pen to keep Colonel our lead roo and the ladies from being molested by the teenage hooligans. The only Roos that raised their hackles were the one Rhodebar that was in a separate pen with his hatch sibling. When Colonel would walk by the pen with the ladies both Colonel and (I called him Elvis) would look aggressive. (Never any physical altercations because of the fencing, though they may have went at it if it were not there.). I believe the common issue is hens being around multiple roosters. We would let the boys out to forage separate from our hens. Most Roos would go up to the runs where the ladies were and hang out initially. Once the ladies showed no interest they moved on to forage. When we lost Colonel we put Sir Eddie (Birchen Maran) in with the ladies and he too was a real gentleman but the ladies were disinterested in him but respectful. We have 14 barred rocks in the incubator that is to hatch next week. We are hoping to not only get hens to breed with a Welsummer rooster but hoping we can get another gentle giant like Colonel.

 

[Mrs. K]

The only answer to any rooster question is "Maybe, maybe your idea will work...have a plan B and C and D..."

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I tried a bachelor pen. There was occasional fights, and roosters mating roosters. Adding new ones didn't go well as they were chased and mated relentlessly. We just started putting the older ones in the freezer.

I had good luck penning pairs and trios of compatible roosters long term without problems, and other times it didn't work long term.