Does it ever work to have 2 roosters in a small flock?

[SueT]

I had 2 cockerels in with 2 pullets and 7 hens. By age 3 or 4 months, there was a lot of havoc, the boys chasing and fighting. The higher ranking one always in pursuit of the other, who crashed into everyone, into fences trying to get away. The lower ranking one was often trying to grab the pullets when he thought big brother wasn't looking. The older hens tried to discipline them but to no avail. They were all stressed out much of the time. I sold little brother at the poultry swap, and ah, peace again. Big guy is always polite to the girls, and everyone is happy.

 

[VJK]

Thank you everyone for you insights. I really appreciate it. I know they're young now but wanting to make a plan just in case. I will give it time and see. One other question.... if we did decide to keep them, but separate them from the hens (separate run and coop for just the bachelors)- is it best to keep them side by side so they can still communication through the fence- or is it better to provide them with a separate space altogether. Wouldn't want them to feel frustrated but also wonder if just being close to the hens would ease loneliness or boredom? (Of course adding to the coop and run is the easiest option.

 

[Ms Clucky]

I don't know to be honest but I would see how it goes and if they fight you have to get rid of one of them.
It is very strange to have an ISA brown Cockerel, if you send a picture someone might be able to help.

Maybe if they grew hatched together in the same batch. Then that may only work for a few years. Roosters tend to want to be dominate.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you everyone for you insights. I really appreciate it. I know they're young now but wanting to make a plan just in case. I will give it time and see. One other question.... if we did decide to keep them, but separate them from the hens (separate run and coop for just the bachelors)- is it best to keep them side by side so they can still communication through the fence- or is it better to provide them with a separate space altogether. Wouldn't want them to feel frustrated but also wonder if just being close to the hens would ease loneliness or boredom? (Of course adding to the coop and run is the easiest option.

I personally pen mine where they can still interact with the hens. Others pen them away. I think it depends on the individual birds. Some will fight and others will buddy up. So have a plan, as well as a backup plan or two.

 

[keesmom]

Here's a pic of the 4 chicks. The lightest one is supposedly an ISA Brown. I later heard the very light ones are male while the golden colored ones are female and that's how they tell them apart at hatching? Wished I had known that before I went into the store! Looks like my soft heart might toughen up if they are as "active" as I'm hearing here! Yikes! Darn hormones! BTW, if anyone knows what the black one might be- I'd like to know. Haven't seen a Wyandotte look like that from pics I've found so again- might have been told incorrectly at the store.

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The one on the right could be an ISA brown, or some other strain of red sex link. Red cockerel in the center is a hatchery RIR/production red. As chicks they are similar in color to other red birds such as red sex links. White bird on left is likely a white Rock cockerel, it looks too beefy to be a Leghorn. Need a better picture of the black chick to have an idea on breed. Sumatra maybe?

 

[sourland]

Welcome to BYC. Bottom line is it may or may not work. In my experience based opinion in a pen/enclosed situation it very well may not work.

 

[cleoandtheflock]

I know someone with 3 Easter egger hens and 1 java hen
And a silkie bantam roo and huge Java too and their flock doesn’t well

 

[VJK]

The one on the right could be an ISA brown, or some other strain of red sex link. Red cockerel in the center is a hatchery RIR/production red. As chicks they are similar in color to other red birds such as red sex links. White bird on left is likely a white Rock cockerel, it looks too beefy to be a Leghorn. Need a better picture of the black chick to have an idea on breed. Sumatra maybe?

Thanks for helping me try to figure these out! I figured you all would be tired of newbies asking about what kind their chickens were, but if you don't mind taking a look....? As chicks the light yellow one and the medium golden brown one were similar in color with the lighter one paler. The store said they both were ISA Brown pullets (pretty sure one is a cockerel- at least has comb and wattles growing faster than 2 others). One looks white in the pics but is actually pale yellow. The black one was with the reddish brown one and they said both were laced Wyandottes. As chicks, the reddish one had patterning in its feathers and the black was all black except for a white belly (now has brown edges on feathers on the chest). I have no idea for sure what any of them are! But because 2 of them have larger combs and wattles already- guessing cockerels.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Dark one looks like a speckled Sussex rooster, the lighter red a production red pullet, than either a leghorns or white rock pullet. No Wyandotte.

 

[woodmort]

Number of roosters that get along will depend on the amount of room they have and the number of hens. That being said, sooner or later one will become dominate and make like miserable for the rest--see my post "Getting Old is Kinda Sad". I've had roosters from the same hatch that got along great for a few years until one realize he was stronger than the other--the results were usually the weaker getting injured and dying.