the age long question - to keep or not to keep. We have 22 hens, always had at least 1 rooster (typically one). We lost one late last summer. So the hens have been almost a year talking care of themselves. We brought 2 silkier roosters home two days ago. Super friendly, been a pair of 3 for a year with no hens to mingle with(someone resused them and I guess enjoyed there company???). Any ways. Night one we put them I need small coop alone with plans of slowly integrating them. I get the whole pecking order and how that changes when u add or remove from a flock. They started fighting as soon as we let them out to run in pen, the hens were not in pen with them. We opened whole pen up for all to mingle thinking maybe they would chill out. They fought until I had to separate due to it getting bloody. The hens were not impressed. I separated the two. But not the one allowed with hens and run of the whole pen won't leave the side of the other rooster (thru a fence) They litterly act like they can't be separated but when ever I give them a shot together the war starts again. I'm thinking if I don't get rid of one the other will just stay glued to the other between a chain link fence. They both act like a male should, playing the mounting game, and trying to call the females in with food, and both crow. Should I give it time- if so how long(it's a pain keeping them separate) or am I prolonging the inevitable? And making it worse cause now neither is interacting with the hens- they could care less that there are 22 chickens around them. They are very human friendly. Thanks for listening.
