fighting roosters

[moefaye]

I have had two rooster take up at my house (do not have other chickens or roosters). Have enjoyed watching and feeding them.They seemed inseparable. Yesterday morning when I looked at them noticed that they had something on their feathers and wattles. Thought someone not happy with their crowing may have sprayed something on them. We managed to catch them and washed them in the shower. It was blood and one has several injuries to his wattle, one very large. I applied cut heal since this is the only thing I had on hand. I had purchased this from a feed store to treat an injured duck awhile back.

The question is, these are free roaming roosters, is there anything I can do to stop the fighting other than building separate pens for them?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated, as I don't want them hurting or killing each other.

 

[moefaye]

Please, I'm very new to chickens and roosters. Don't really own any, just trying to care for the two rooster that have taken up at my home.

Need help caring for these guys and stopping further injuries. Thought BYC would be the place to get help. Forum did help with what I should feed them.

Please reply to my post regarding the fighting.

Thanks.
moefaye

 

[ranchhand]

Sounds like separation may be the only solution.

It's a roosters nature to fight other roosters. If you can get 10 hens for each roo it will solve everything!

 

[danischi24]

They may not have fought each other if they are inseperable & don't have hens around. Roos normally only fight seriously when in the presence of ladies. Something may have got to them if they are free-rangers. I would leave them be-chickens don't like to be kept alone & as long as they can get away from each other, they shouldn't do too much damage if they are actually fighting with each other.

 

[gckiddhouse]

I agree. I would leave them be. They probably fought something off together. They are free range and they probably wouldn't take to well to be confined.

 

[moefaye]

Thanks for the replies. Since we don't have the ability to get 20 hens at this time, will probably let them back out in the morning. They do seem to eating very well separated in different crates in the living room. I know most people would think we are crazy having roosters in the living room. We work with a wildlife rehab org. and have had many baby and teenage raccoons in cages in our home. They are not released anywhere near here. I know raccoons are a big threat to chickens, ducks, etc. Will welcome any other suggestions, in case we continue to have a problem with these beautiful boys.

 

[moefaye]

Whoops, I meant to say that they DON'T seem to be eating very well now. Am a little concerned.

 

[greathorse]

If they are free ranging they should be OK. My guess is that their issue was settled when you intervened, roosters will figure out who is who from time to time. Their combs and wattles do bleed very easily and it usually looks much worse than it really is.

Now that they have been cooped and separated odds are they will go at it again.

If it were me I would turn them out and go to work, leave them to get it worked out.

JMO