How do I get two roosters to share a new coop?

[SilverChic]

Beautiful dudes!
It comes down to their traits. Some roosters are chill, some are gonna establish pecking order, and some will not stop until the perceived threat is dead, unfortunately - that's really common!

Thanks! I'm praying for a pecking-order situation, but not blinded to the possibility that the other could occur.

 

[McChooky]

A little info: I have 20 hens and two roosters (Big Boy was a rescue/rehomed, no issues at all, I believe, he is over 2-3 years old; Dewy, just over a year - one of our hatchlings. I have two small coops, so Big Boy is in one, and Dewy is in the other (it wasn't planned; it just worked out that way). They are all let out together to free range all day. Big Boy will chase Dewy a few times a day. Dewy runs away, so there is no contact; he keeps his distance. I want to eliminate the two smaller coops, so I put together a big coop (8x8) with an attached 8x16 run. Move-in day to the new coop will be tomorrow, as I should have everything completed. I did do a test run. I got everyone to go in to check out the setup (food/water/roost), and Big Boy didn't want Dewy in there; he chased Dewy out. Will this escalate? Do I need to keep them in separate coops? I don't want to force the issue. I especially don't want anyone hurt. I love both my boys and don't plan to get rid of either of them. I will keep Dewy in his own coop (with a few of the girls) if I have to. Your thoughts, suggestions, please? The first picture is Dewy, and the 2nd is Big Boy. ONLY MUD on Big Boys waddle, he is fine. I love my handsome boys, they are sweeties...

Based on your set up and the history between the two I recommend you keep them separate ,Give Dewey his own hens and give him a smaller coop so he can be your back up if you need him.

 

[BDutch]

A little info: I have 20 hens and two roosters (Big Boy was a rescue/rehomed, no issues at all, I believe, he is over 2-3 years old; Dewy, just over a year - one of our hatchlings. I have two small coops, so Big Boy is in one, and Dewy is in the other (it wasn't planned; it just worked out that way). They are all let out together to free range all day. Big Boy will chase Dewy a few times a day. Dewy runs away, so there is no contact; he keeps his distance. I want to eliminate the two smaller coops, so I put together a big coop (8x8) with an attached 8x16 run. Move-in day to the new coop will be tomorrow, as I should have everything completed. I did do a test run. I got everyone to go in to check out the setup (food/water/roost), and Big Boy didn't want Dewy in there; he chased Dewy out. Will this escalate? Do I need to keep them in separate coops? I don't want to force the issue. I especially don't want anyone hurt. I love both my boys and don't plan to get rid of either of them. I will keep Dewy in his own coop (with a few of the girls) if I have to. Your thoughts, suggestions, please? The first picture is Dewy, and the 2nd is Big Boy. ONLY MUD on Big Boys waddle, he is fine. I love my handsome boys, they are sweeties...

Not a good idea to force anything imho.
Give the boys/the flock the chance to decide for themselves.

 

[Mrs. K]

64 foot coop would be best for 15 hens and one rooster. That is considering 4 square feet for a coop. Roosters take more space than hens. IMO.

Some roosters will get along, but roosters that are not don’t turn into roosters that do in crowded situations.

As for keeping a back up, I would not. I think that there is probably a lot of tension in the flock that you might not be aware of until it is gone. Fighting birds upset the whole flock.

If you loose a rooster, they are pretty easy to come by locally. Generally for free, so it really does not make for good husbandry to keep a bird, maintain strife in the flock to keep an extra rooster.

Once I kept brothers, seemed like it was going well, until a friend needed a rooster. What I could not hardly believe is how my whole flock relaxed when there was only one.

If you have to keep them confined, I mostly do, I cull down to one rooster going into fall.

Mrs K

 

[Anon112]

I had two "mini-flocks" in the same run, but with a partition down the middle so they could see each other. After two years of this set-up, some switch flipped in the roosters' brains and all of a sudden they just didn't scrap with each other anymore and now hang out all the time and roost together. Definitely don't force them into a space together, especially if the loser of a fight has nowhere to escape.

 

[SilverChic]

Not a good idea to force anything imho.
Give the boys/the flock the chance to decide for themsel

Based on your set up and the history between the two I recommend you keep them separate ,Give Dewey his own hens and give him a smaller coop so he can be your back up if you need him.

That's what I may have to do. Both roosters do fine outside of the coop; they eat together, roam around the same area, and so on. Big Boy will only chase Dewy when he gets too close to him and for only a short distance, . And I would NEVER force an issue.

 

[SilverChic]

A little info: I have 20 hens and two roosters (Big Boy was a rescue/rehomed, no issues at all, I believe, he is over 2-3 years old; Dewy, just over a year - one of our hatchlings. I have two small coops, so Big Boy is in one, and Dewy is in the other (it wasn't planned; it just worked out that way). They are all let out together to free range all day. Big Boy will chase Dewy a few times a day. Dewy runs away, so there is no contact; he keeps his distance. I want to eliminate the two smaller coops, so I put together a big coop (8x8) with an attached 8x16 run. Move-in day to the new coop will be tomorrow, as I should have everything completed. I did do a test run. I got everyone to go in to check out the setup (food/water/roost), and Big Boy didn't want Dewy in there; he chased Dewy out. Will this escalate? Do I need to keep them in separate coops? I would never force the issue. I especially don't want anyone hurt. I love both my boys and don't plan to get rid of either of them. I will keep Dewy in his own coop (with a few of the girls) if I have to. Your thoughts, suggestions, please? The first picture is Dewy, and the 2nd is Big Boy. ONLY MUD on Big Boys waddle, he is fine. I love my handsome boys, they are sweeties...

 

[McChooky]

I would never lock 2 roosters up in the same coop that don't get along. Even roosters that grow up together will fight.All it would take for them to fight is for Dewey to be unable to run

 

[SilverChic]

I would never lock 2 roosters up in the same coop that don't get along. Even roosters that grow up together will fight.All it would take for them to fight is for Dewey to be unable to run

Agreed, it was never my intention. I was just asking to see if anyone had experience with my situation.

 

[SilverChic]

A little info: I have 20 hens and two roosters (Big Boy was a rescue/rehomed, no issues at all, I believe, he is over 2-3 years old; Dewy, just over a year - one of our hatchlings. I have two small coops, so Big Boy is in one, and Dewy is in the other (it wasn't planned; it just worked out that way). They are all let out together to free range all day. Big Boy will chase Dewy a few times a day. Dewy runs away, so there is no contact; he keeps his distance. I want to eliminate the two smaller coops, so I put together a big coop (8x8) with an attached 8x16 run. Move-in day to the new coop will be tomorrow, as I should have everything completed. I did do a test run. I got everyone to go in to check out the setup (food/water/roost), and Big Boy didn't want Dewy in there; he chased Dewy out. Will this escalate? Do I need to keep them in separate coops? I don't want to force the issue. I especially don't want anyone hurt. I love both my boys and don't plan to get rid of either of them. I will keep Dewy in his own coop (with a few of the girls) if I have to. Your thoughts, suggestions, please? The first picture is Dewy, and the 2nd is Big Boy. ONLY MUD on Big Boys waddle, he is fine. I love my handsome boys, they are sweeties...

UPDATE: First, I want to clarify, as I may have caused some confusion in describing my situation: all the hens and roosters are free-range from sun-up to sun-down on about a 1/8-acre area (fenced in under an oak canopy, with many safe spots throughout, such as chicken tractors, a child's play fort, and large tables). I let them all out at the same time, they come and meet me for their morning treats of spouts and grains. Big Boy chases Dewy now and again away from the hens. I somewhat noticed (will pay closer attention in the following days) that it appears Big Boy only does that when Dewy comes near one of his chosen hens. They all go to their own coops at night, no issues.

So, with that said, here is my plan: I will put four of the Producers Pride Poultry pens together (which I have). I will have an enclosed coop at each end, with a run in the middle for each coop, so two sections for two groups of chickens. Each will have its own auto door. Now the two groups of chickens have a nicer, bigger, and more secure coop/run than they do now, AND it will make it easier on me as well.

Thank you all for your responses; I greatly appreciate them, and I love the open and honest suggestions. I genuinely love learning from this group. I'm here every chance I get, learning. Thank you all, and God Bless. Oh, and Merry Christmas!!