Finally happened :(

[Love My Chickies]

I knew it would probably happen eventually. I have two boys who were hatched and raised together, living separately from my girls. (I recently rehomed one who was becoming very aggressive toward people.) They've been doing fine and suddenly today my favorite, sweet boy began attacking the other. Still as friendly as can be toward me and my family, but absolutely won't stop attacking his "brother". They were fighting pretty viciously so I removed the other one and am trying to rehome him with my 4 girls. Now I'm worried about my boy, Marshmallow. It will be getting cold soon and he has no one to snuggle with now. Besides, can he live on his own without any companionship besides me? I'm so worried about him and don't know what to do. Btw, he can't be a house rooster due to dogs. Any helpful suggestions?

 

[cherrynberry]

I knew it would probably happen eventually. I have two boys who were hatched and raised together, living separately from my girls. (I recently rehomed one who was becoming very aggressive toward people.) They've been doing fine and suddenly today my favorite, sweet boy began attacking the other. Still as friendly as can be toward me and my family, but absolutely won't stop attacking his "brother". They were fighting pretty viciously so I removed the other one and am trying to rehome him with my 4 girls. Now I'm worried about my boy, Marshmallow. It will be getting cold soon and he has no one to snuggle with now. Besides, can he live on his own without any companionship besides me? I'm so worried about him and don't know what to do. Btw, he can't be a house rooster due to dogs. Any helpful suggestions?

Do you have a large coop? I like to keep roosters separated in a mini "prefab" and then put that into the coop. He can still see the others, stay safe, but also not fight anybody.

 

[Love My Chickies]

Do you have a large coop?

Not so much. I live in a neighborhood. I have 2 separate coops and runs. Coops are approx 6x4. Biggest run is 13x7 ish I think. The boys run is a tad smaller.

 

[Love My Chickies]

The runs are attached to each other. Idk if that's helping or hurting.

 

[cherrynberry]

The runs are attached to each other. Idk if that's helping or hurting.

Okay, so you keep one boy in one coop and one in the other? How many hens do you have?

 

[Love My Chickies]

Okay, so you keep one boy in one coop and one in the other? How many hens do you have?

Only 4. They were supposed to be separate from the boys, but I had nowhere else to put Fudge, the roo who was getting attacked.

 

[Fallenone05]

Only 4. They were supposed to be separate from the boys, but I had nowhere else to put Fudge, the roo who was getting attacked.

I have a male per 10 females - 4 females seems too few even for just one. You'll need to get rid of one or both of them, or get hens for each of the boys. Chickens are social and need other birds for company.

 

[cherrynberry]

Only 4. They were supposed to be separate from the boys, but I had nowhere else to put Fudge, the roo who was getting attacked.

Yeah, that is way too few girls for two boys. What is your plan after you get rid of the boy and all of your girls? Nobody would be happy. Do you plan to get more girls? If it were me, I say you try to rehome the mean boy on his own. If it is not possible, are you down to butcher?

Also, by a bad fight, do you mean blood shed? I have not had two males that grew up with each other that also "fought"

 

[Love My Chickies]

Yeah, that is way too few girls for two boys. What is your plan after you get rid of the boy and all of your girls? Nobody would be happy. Do you plan to get more girls? If it were me, I say you try to rehome the mean boy on his own. If it is not possible, are you down to butcher?

Also, by a bad fight, do you mean blood shed? I have not had two males that grew up with each other that also "fought"

I'm not going to rehome them. Way too attached. They are definitely my pets. The one who attacked is by far my absolute favorite. He's just like a puppy. Still has never been aggressive toward any human. Luckily no bloodshed, but I believe there would have been soon. Before we finally removed Fudge, Marshmallow had him pinned down and had him by the neck.
One of my girls just laid her first egg, our first ever. I can't help but wonder if that had anything to do with it.

 

[Fallenone05]

I'm not going to rehome them. Way too attached. They are definitely my pets. The one who attacked is by far my absolute favorite. He's just like a puppy. Still has never been aggressive toward any human. Luckily no bloodshed, but I believe there would have been soon. Before we finally removed Fudge, Marshmallow had him pinned down and had him by the neck.
One of my girls just laid her first egg, our first ever. I can't help but wonder if that had anything to do with it.

Yes - you have two sexually active males and 4 active females. One has decided those are *his* hens and the other will have to leave, no matter how he gets the other one away. Chickens are territorial. I slaughtered a young cockerel to keep my adult from killing him in a fight since the young one was old enough to try and breed the hens.