fighting roosters - help

[aart]

the run is about 10x20. 4 hens. I can't let them free range because of gripey neighbors and coyotes.

How big is your coop, in feet by feet?
How old are all these birds?
Multiple males are almost always a problem.
There are no hard numbers of males to females that ensure harmony.
Best to have a plan to get rid of 'extra' males or have separate enclosures to keep them from fighting and/or over-mating the females.

 

[Folly's place]

These cockerels may be totally beautiful, but you don't have the space or the flock that will work for them. Soon you'll have total disaster out there!
Move two of them on, ASAP, or move all three elsewhere, and consider MAYBE raising chicks in spring, and keeping a cockerel then.
Your birds are telling you something here...
Mary

 

[benjoycei]

Husband nixed the 2nd enclosure. He put them out of the pen today to fend for themselves. I couldn't stand seeing them trying to get back in in the evening so I let them back in. As soon as they got back in they gang raped 2 hens....aaaaagh

 

[keesmom]

Husband nixed the 2nd enclosure. He put them out of the pen today to fend for themselves. I couldn't stand seeing them trying to get back in in the evening so I let them back in. As soon as they got back in they gang raped 2 hens....aaaaagh

If you can't separate them then it's time to pack them up and send them off elsewhere, even if it's to someone's freezer. The current situation isn't fair to them and it's going to be even worse for those pullets.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Husband nixed the 2nd enclosure. He put them out of the pen today to fend for themselves.

So basically he's hoping a predator will come and eat them? That's about the worst thing you can do - it's inhumane, it'll definitely give your neighbors a reason to complain, and it'll only encourage predators to start hanging around. You need to get rid of them humanely, whether as dinner or as someone else's dinner.

 

[roosterhavoc]

So basically he's hoping a predator will come and eat them? That's about the worst thing you can do - it's inhumane, it'll definitely give your neighbors a reason to complain, and it'll only encourage predators to start hanging around. You need to get rid of them humanely, whether as dinner or as someone else's dinner.

Allowing birds to run loose isn’t inhumane! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. The more recent phenomenon of people treating chickens like a hamster is a sad but growing trend. Locking them in a cage so they will be safe is equivalent to a human being in prison.
Chickens would much rather be loose. If you don’t think so open their pen/run and see what they do.
If someone allows birds to run loose and loses them to predators constantly without doing anything well that’s just asinine. Birds are far healthier free range, feathers will be better quality and they won’t end up with bumble foot.

 

[sourland]

Realistically you have neither enough space or hens for three roosters.

"put them out of the pen to fend for themselves." - is indeed inhumane. Far better to give them a swift and controlled death rather than slow death by predation. @roosterhavoc

 

[slordaz]

way I see it you can make a bachelors pad and put the boys by themselves, get rid of all but 1 or process em you don't have enough pullets/hens/ for cockerels andthe older they get the worse it's going to be. You gonna be very happy if they kill your pullets then kill each other and leave ya with 1 rooster?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Allowing birds to run loose isn’t inhumane! That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.

OP said specifically: "I can't let them free range because of gripey neighbors and coyotes." So this is absolutely giving neighbors reason to complain (whether because chickens are leaving property, or it goes against zoning), and predators at location are already confirmed. These birds are being locked OUT and do not have the option of a safe enclosure, this is not the same as free ranging.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Realistically you have neither enough space or hens for three roosters.

"put them out of the pen to fend for themselves." - is indeed inhumane. Far better to give them a swift and controlled death rather than slow death by predation. @roosterhavoc

The first night I let birds out to free range I “put them out to fend for themselves”.
So you’re saying it’s better to kill them instead of giving them a chance? That logic is bewildering. Granted I do things differently by trapping but I still deal with foxes, raccoons, mink, opossums, hawks etc.. I just chased off a hawk earlier this afternoon. There’s always a chance birds will be killed when loose. That’s not inhumane.
Keeping roosters together in a bachelor flock to bully each other and attempt to mate other roosters is far more inhumane. Because it’s easier it’s done fairly often. I’ve done it and know what happens. It’s pretty sad.