Flock Behavior - two groups

[GooseMoyo]

Hey!
I have 14 chickens; 6 adults (1 roo, 5 hens - 3 are ~1 year and 2 are ~25 weeks) & 8 (1 cockerel, 7 pullets) that are ~10 weeks. Food and water are all located in a single run/coop but they free range most of the day. There are zero issues when all 14 are together - aside from normal pecking order stuff when I throw food scraps in the run, etc.

However, when they are free ranging they, almost exclusively, run in two separate groups, the "adults" and the "kids". Is this likely a function of their age difference or are the two roosters creating competing flocks? A combination? From what I've read, 12 hens isn't enough to have 2 roosters and as the younger matures (just heard his first attempts at crowing this week) the competition for mating will increase and could hurt the hens.

Should I expect the two group to form into one as the pullets start reaching maturity? I've not no problems getting rid of one of the roosters, if necessary, but if they'll co-exist peacefully in the run and while they sleep, I have plenty of space for two separate flocks to range.

 

[thecatumbrella]

Everything I've learned says this is normal. Chickens hang around with whoever they grew up with. It's possible you'll get some crossover in the future, once everyone's older and settled, but in the meantime I'd consider the integration a success! I say give the two roosters a shot until it becomes a problem.

 

[GooseMoyo]

Everything I've learned says this is normal. Chickens hang around with whoever they grew up with. It's possible you'll get some crossover in the future, once everyone's older and settled, but in the meantime I'd consider the integration a success! I say give the two roosters a shot until it becomes a problem.

Great - thanks!
We'll see how things look in a few months.