Cockerel question

[rehdancer]

Hi Folks,
I've determined that we have 3, maybe 4 cockerels in our flock of 12 chicks. We live in the country so when the crowing starts we will be the only ones affected, but they're already fighting at 6 weeks old. They're fighting with each other, chasing the hens (even the little one - quite the attitude !) and in general stirring things up although the biggest hen is having none of it from any of the boys!
They are still in the basement in a brooder (coop not done yet) although I've been putting them in a fenced yard for about an hour each day it's warm enough and they really seem to like that.
My questions:
At what age are these boys old enough to harvest?
If I want to keep them longer do they just have to work it out, and is there any danger in them doing that?
Are they fighting because they're running out of room?
I'm thinking I may be entering the realm of over-crowding and its problems.
Thanks in advance !

 

[DobieLover]

They are fighting to establish dominance. I would try to get them moved out to the coop and run ASAP as they need more space. That will help with the fighting.
You will want to build a grow out pen for the cockerels if you intend to harvest them. They start mating the pullets before the pullets are ready and with that many cockerels to pullets, the pullets will basically be terrorized by the boys unless they are kept in a separate pen.
Non-meat bird cockerels are usually harvested around 5-6 months or so. When you harvest is up to you.