Do I let them fight?

[mrl8810]

I have two silkie roosters in my coop that I've had since they were babies..raised them together and growing up they never fought...now that they are about six months old..they've started fighting..to the point of their combs bleeding..I've tried separating them and reintroducing them...I've tried picking them up to show them I'm boss also and nothing seems to work...the silkies were said to be purebred but I asked on Back Yard Chickens and was told they are either mixes or very poorly bred chickens..not sure if that matters? Any ideas what to do? Should i let them fight or will they end up killing each other since they have already caused each other to bleed...thanks.

Also I was told when I got them that if i raised roosters together that they wouldn't fight when they were older..is that true?

 

[nchls school]

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I have two silkie roosters in my coop that I've had since they were babies..raised them together and growing up they never fought...now that they are about six months old..they've started fighting..to the point of their combs bleeding..I've tried separating them and reintroducing them...I've tried picking them up to show them I'm boss also and nothing seems to work...the silkies were said to be purebred but I asked on Back Yard Chickens and was told they are either mixes or very poorly bred chickens..not sure if that matters? Any ideas what to do? My advice is to part with one. The fighting, probably, will only get worse. Should i let them fight or will they end up killing each other since they have already caused each other to bleed...thanks.

Also I was told when I got them that if i raised roosters together that they wouldn't fight when they were older..is that true? Partially true; doesn't always work out.

If the fighting wasn't such that blood was being drawn I advice to wait and see if the roos work things out, but once blood is drawn...

 

[Matilda Belle]

If blood is being drawn, they will need to be in separate pens. Even roosters raised together will turn on each other.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do you have photos of them?

How much space do you have? (sq ft of housing and run)
Do you have pullets for the Silkies?
What are your goals?

Personally, I would separate them. They will be fine housed by themselves. Once they are older you can determine which one(s) suits your goals/needs (breeding, pet, etc.) and move them around accordingly.

Guess it's not true that roosters (cockerels) raised together won't fight - they are fighting now aren't they

 

[Chicken Heel]

Having raised chickens for 50+ years, once roosters start fighting they will generally continue until one fully submits or dies. And then the submissive one often gets bullied by the dominant one and the hens higher up the pecking order may join the party as well.

 

[MountainWoman73]

I only ever keep one rooster at a time. Choose the one that your hens like and soup pot the other.

 

[Criticalicious]

Roosters raised together CAN get along but they don't always - depending on circumstances and the individuals. I recently had a group of 4 cockerels who were fine together for 9 months, but they did not have hens to claim and fight over. They sorted out their pecking order before anyone drew blood. Occasionally they'd have mock battles when they were allowed out to free range, but again, no blood was drawn because the loser gave up and ran away after a couple jumps or feints. I never had to separate them. If you have space to separate them, have you tried putting them in separate cages next to each other, to see if they'll adapt without being able to draw blood?