Have you seen roosters fight to the death?

[TerryBowleg]

Is it common? Or do they usually give it up before it gets to that point?

 

[Gamewarden]

They can fight to the death. It usually happens when you have a more than 2 roosters, but some breeds of roosters were bred for fighting, for example Old English Game roosters. I personally had 6 roosters at one time, and it was soon down to only 3.

The best way to prevent them from fighting is separating them. Another thing you can try are chicken blinders. https://www.amazon.com/Weilan-Chick...&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583451676253659&th=1.

These were invented by Benjamin Franklin. They prevent the chicken from seeing straight ahead, so it keeps them from pecking each other and, I would imagine, keep roosters from seeing well enough to fight. They don't hurt them. I've used them on a flock of chickens to prevent cannibalism and they worked well.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Typically they will only fight to the death if they're A) both specific breeds/lines with a high fighting drive or B) the loser cannot get away. Most of my males are I groups with multiples. I think right now I only have 5 pens with single males and for most it's because I either processed extra males out or don't have enough hens to consider multiple males.

 

[TwoCrows]

Yes they can, especially those not raised together. And it doesn't matter the breed, if one is more dominant and the other wants his position, they can in deed fight until one becomes mortally wounded, both will end up exhausted and bloody, but death is entirely possible.

 

[TerryBowleg]

Yes they can, especially those not raised together. And it doesn't matter the breed, if one is more dominant and the other wants his position, they can in deed fight until one becomes mortally wounded, both will end up exhausted and bloody, but death is entirely possible.

My neighbor’s rooster wants my hens and fights with my rooster. Usually I break them up. But if it happened and I’m not there, it wouldn’t surprise me if they fought to the death. They do not seem to stop

 

[TwoCrows]

My neighbor’s rooster wants my hens and fights with my rooster. Usually I break them up. But if it happened and I’m not there, it wouldn’t surprise me if they fought to the death. They do not seem to stop

Either tell your neighbor to keep his rooster fenced or you should fence your flock in. You need to protect your boy and his hens. If he loses an eye, gets his neck ripped open, it may not end well for your boy. Both of them can gravely hurt each other.

 

[TerryBowleg]

Either tell your neighbor to keep his rooster fenced or you should fence your flock in. You need to protect your boy and his hens. If he loses an eye, gets his neck ripped open, it may not end well for your boy. Both of them can gravely hurt each other.

This is all pretty new…I was hoping they would establish a territory and leave each other alone. But it doesn’t seem like it. Mine are currently kept penned

 

[JacinLarkwell]

This is all pretty new…I was hoping they would establish a territory and leave each other alone. But it doesn’t seem like it. Mine are currently kept penned

Some flocks will developed territory (my two main flocks did), bit it's a large amount of space and still overlaps quite a bit

 

[TwoCrows]

This is all pretty new…I was hoping they would establish a territory and leave each other alone. But it doesn’t seem like it. Mine are currently kept penned

It all depends, each bird is different. Does the neighbor rooster have a flock of hens for himself? If he doesn't, he's more likely to want to steal your boys hens and not quit til he gets them. Their territory can extend as far as their needs go. Good that your flock is penned, definitely keep them confined and away from this rooster.

 

[TerryBowleg]

It all depends, each bird is different. Does the neighbor rooster have a flock of hens for himself? If he doesn't, he's more likely to want to steal your boys hens and not quit til he gets them. Their territory can extend as far as their needs go. Good that your flock is penned, definitely keep them confined and away from this rooster.

I have more hens than the neighbor. I have 19 and they only have like 3-5, which I think is part of the problem.