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

[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...

 

[Mrs. K]

Are the hens and the roosters all going to be in the coop?

Actually, it really doesn't matter. In these cases, I think you have to listen to your birds, and Big Boy is saying," Nope not in my castle. Go away."

I think if you push it, there will be a rooster fight. Now, maybe, one a done, maybe not. People have lost birds, who fight to the death. While there is not a way to truly predict this, putting them in confinement is a pretty good way to egg it on.

If you want them both, keep them separate at least at night.

MRs K

 

[SilverChic]

Are the hens and the roosters all going to be in the coop?

Actually, it really doesn't matter. In these cases, I think you have to listen to your birds, and Big Boy is saying," Nope not in my castle. Go away."

I think if you push it, there will be a rooster fight. Now, maybe, one a done, maybe not. People have lost birds, who fight to the death. While there is not a way to truly predict this, putting them in confinement is a pretty good way to egg it on.

If you want them both, keep them separate at least at night.

MRs B

Are the hens and the roosters all going to be in the coop?

Actually, it really doesn't matter. In these cases, I think you have to listen to your birds, and Big Boy is saying," Nope not in my castle. Go away."

I think if you push it, there will be a rooster fight. Now, maybe, one a done, maybe not. People have lost birds, who fight to the death. While there is not a way to truly predict this, putting them in confinement is a pretty good way to egg it on.

If you want them both, keep them separate at least at night.

MRs K

Thank you, Mrs. K. Yes, the plan was to get everyone in one coop to make things easier. I would be so upset if they got into a death fight. I don't think Dewy would do anything but try to escape, and Big Boy has 2-inch-long spurs, so that would really be bad.

 

[DonyaQuick]

Escallation is definitely possible. By the sounds of it they are already functionally in two separate flocks, and that even if Dewy would perhaps tolerate a 2-rooster flock, Big Boy sounds like he might not. Keeping two separate flocks will definitely be a lot safer. Otherwise you do risk a brutal cage fight happening when you're not around. In two-rooster situations, having one that is submissive isn't necessarily enough; the dominant roo has to be willing to accept the other as a flock member, which it doesn't sound like Dewy is doing.

As a point of behavioral comparison, I have a flock that has been led by two brother roos that were hatched and raised together. In their young days (up to about 6 months) there were some scuffles. They are 3.5 years old now. Although the alpha brother occasionally makes sure the beta one knows where he stands, he is gentle about it. Importnatly, they frequently stand right next to each other and even preen each other's hard-to-reach spots.

 

[Anon112]

A few years ago, my Poppy would ruthlessly chase my older rooster, Bernard, away. At this point, they are literally cuddled together every night.

But I didn't push it. Over time their feelings about each other mellowed, and now they can be in the same roosting area. But I've always had two separate areas for them to roost.

Could you post a picture of the coop? Is there any feasible way to partition it?

 

[SilverChic]

Escallation is definitely possible. By the sounds of it they are already functionally in two separate flocks, and that even if Dewy would perhaps tolerate a 2-rooster flock, Big Boy sounds like he might not. Keeping two separate flocks will definitely be a lot safer. Otherwise you do risk a brutal cage fight happening when you're not around. In two-rooster situations, having one that is submissive isn't necessarily enough; the dominant roo has to be willing to accept the other as a flock member, which it doesn't sound like Dewy is doing.

As a point of behavioral comparison, I have a flock that has been led by two brother roos that were hatched and raised together. In their young days (up to about 6 months) there were some scuffles. They are 3.5 years old now. Although the alpha brother occasionally makes sure the beta one knows where he stands, he is gentle about it. Importnatly, they frequently stand right next to each other and even preen each other's hard-to-reach spots.

You might be right. Dewy would try, but I don't see Big Boy giving an inch.

 

[SilverChic]

A few years ago, my Poppy would ruthlessly chase my older rooster, Bernard, away. At this point, they are literally cuddled together every night.

But I didn't push it. Over time their feelings about each other mellowed, and now they can be in the same roosting area. But I've always had two separate areas for them to roost.

Could you post a picture of the coop? Is there any feasible way to partition it?

So, the pens are three Producers Pride Poultry Pens put together. The far end is closed off as the coop with an auto door, the other two are just the run, but I could put sides up and leave him out in the run area. He would still be safe, as I have no dig all around, as well as the tin wall. I could make him a high roost, too. These pictures were taken when work was still in progress. I kept the door open so the chickens could come in to eat and get familiar with the new setup, but they put themselves to bed in their org coops as I haven't closed them off yet.

 

[SourRoses]

I personally don't keep more than 1 roo with the main flock because it's so rarely a peaceful, happy family. It's usually stressful drama for all the hens, as well as pain and shame for one of the roos.
I once made an exception for two near-identical brothers raised together who were good buddies. But the rest of the time, if I have more than 1, it's a separate pen with either a few girls of his own or a bachelor flock.
You can't make them like each other. And once a roo is thoroughly beaten up by another, they seem to never recover their confidence. Sometimes, especially if the loser was a former patriarch set down by a younger roo, they become depressed, stop eating, and don't join the flock because they no longer feel part of it.
When we first got started with breeding we tried keeping multiple roos, thought they were getting along... I came outside due to hearing squawking to see a roo with his face covered in blood with the "winner" mounting him the same complete method as a hen. I grabbed a broom but I could hardly convince the "winner" to get off, he just wanted to keep doing that repeatedly.
So we culled the winner and the loser (for his injuries), and I wrestled with some guilt for a while.
Chickens can be shockingly cruel sometimes.

 

[Eloyster]

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...

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!

 

[SilverChic]

I personally don't keep more than 1 roo with the main flock because it's so rarely a peaceful, happy family. It's usually stressful drama for all the hens, as well as pain and shame for one of the roos.
I once made an exception for two near-identical brothers raised together who were good buddies. But the rest of the time, if I have more than 1, it's a separate pen with either a few girls of his own or a bachelor flock.
You can't make them like each other. And once a roo is thoroughly beaten up by another, they seem to never recover their confidence. Sometimes, especially if the loser was a former patriarch set down by a younger roo, they become depressed, stop eating, and don't join the flock because they no longer feel part of it.
When we first got started with breeding we tried keeping multiple roos, thought they were getting along... I came outside due to hearing squawking to see a roo with his face covered in blood with the "winner" mounting him the same complete method as a hen. I grabbed a broom but I could hardly convince the "winner" to get off, he just wanted to keep doing that repeatedly.
So we culled the winner and the loser (for his injuries), and I wrestled with some guilt for a while.
Chickens can be shockingly cruel sometimes.

We ended up with several roosters (six) in this last batch and had to rehome most and cull a couple. The ones we culled were nasty, mean birds; they would attack anyone. I want to keep these two, cause they are both sweet and beautiful birds. Secondly, because Big Boy is older, if something happens to him, I have a backup rooster to protect the girls. Passing the baton, so to speak.