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