Chicks fighting

[Spud395]

So I've been keeping chickens for 3 yrs now, but only this year hatched some eggs.
They're barred rocks, 4 roosters and I was going to keep them for the table.
When I was locking them up for the night two of them started fighting, ends up its 1 of them who's fighting with whoever, including the hens.
There only 9 weeks old, will I have to seperate them?
I'd like to be able ot keep them together, any ideas?

 

[speckledhen]

They are establishing the pecking order of their group, which is perfectly normal for their age. There is no need to separate anyone unless one becomes injured to the point of drawing blood and making a wound the others will pick.

 

[Spud395]

Thanks for that.

So I would seperte the injuried party if that happens, right?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Correct, if blood is drawn you will need to isolate the injured one. I'm with Speckled on this one. If they aren't drawing blood I let them work it out.

 

[purpletree23]

Are the chickens too cramped? Do they have enough room? Each chicken should have at least 4 square feet per bird in the coop. If you have less per bird then fighting will occur.

 

[speckledhen]

purpletree, that 4 sf is for adult chickens. The youngsters at 9-10 weeks can have plenty of room with just half that amount. Sounds like normal, pecking order sparring to me.