I want to scream ! Roosters fighting !!

[Chihuahuamom]

First I want to thank those that had helpful advise, and I'm very glad to see that some of us that visit backyardchickens have these guys/gals just for the fun of it. Not everyone eats them, culls them etc. Some just have them purely because they are our pets and Enjoy that. I had a lot of suggestions to kill them and simply could never do that to something that has been a pet to me for a yr or more. It's hard enough handing them over to someone to do as they want, and of course I know they may get eaten and prob will. But that doesn't mean I need to be a part of it. I am truly an animal lover and couldn't take ones life, there are people on here that are like that, believe it or not. I'm not a farmer, I have dogs/cats/chickens as my pets. So my guys will hopefully be placed and I won't have to deal with it directly..... Just today I was supposed to go and get my silkie chicks that I have been anxiously awaiting, and I called the woman and told her to sell them to someone else. As much as I want more silkies I know that from the 8 I was getting, at least 4 will be roos, and in my case prob 6 would be and I'd be going thru this BS some months from now. So I will go back to looking for adult silkie hens and forget about my babies

 

[kycklingar!]

You sound like you have an OK ratio of hens and roos. And, since you love them as pets, you can try what I do. When the roos stand off, I grab them both and hug the hell out of them. I give them LOTS of lap time, and then I establish myself at the top of the pecking order. So all they spar for is who is #2 and #3. I also keep them separate from the females when unattended, since they do give more attention than the girls need. My EE has suffered more feather damage than the rest, so she doesn't get visiting hours at all

I understand that many people on BYC have different views on the value of chicken lives. But I think I'm with you on this one. I someone has a big farm, etc, different rules apply, but for our babies that we raised in the house, we have a very different relationship with them. I got 2 roos unintentionall, but we're soldiering on, and I give them lots of face time so they stay friendly. Also, if they can't free range as much, it seems to curb their fighting instincts... My 2 boys share a 4x8 enclosure.
Just a few suggestions. Good luck!

 

[Chihuahuamom]

Kycklingar thank you !! I was beginning to think I was one of a rare few that really love their chicken pets...whew I never knew raising chickens just as pets was such a rarity till I came here. I know raising them for meat is common, but I was beginning to think I was the only one that couldn't take a pair of snips to a baby chicks head if needed. Sorry guys but I would have to take it to my vet to be put down if it was needed. That's me, and I'm not ashamed of it !

 

[PortageGirl]

I'm sorry, I had little patience for most of this thread. Either separate the roosters, wring their necks, or get rid of them by selling or giving them away, but don't expect them to live happily together without fighting. It's what roosters do.

If anyone has enough money to 'not make soup' yippee... good for them, but roosters fight, If anyone has enough money to put air conditioning in a coop, they have enough money to build a run for just the roos.

When they don't have hens to fight over, they often make little bachelor groups that get along well together.

Please don't expect to hear some magic answer that can stop them from upsetting you. There's no magic wand that can cause them to act against their nature by weaving daisy chains and signing peace pacts. Rooster fight, they are driven to compete, and they will mount hens as often as possible if there is any competition in the area so as to promote their gene pool over any other rooster that is nearby. It is instinct.

This whole thread amazes me! People gave an honest response to a question, but that isn't good enough because it didn't say what was hoped for. *sigh*

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
Well said PortageGirl.

This week I was suppose to have 2 of my extra silkie roos butchered. I loved them dearly, as I raised them from one day olds. But I didn't have the space to keep them forever, or the patience to stand all of the excessive crowing. I am tolerant of the roosters I have now, but I can't have a whole choir. My neighbor ended up taking them to her sisters to be butchered. All day I thought about it. BUT! It turned out that her nephew enjoyed these roosters and so did his children (boy and girl). Now, these roosters will be kept as pets. Their temperament is great which is why they wanted them and since they were raised together, this will lower the percentage of fighting. I was happy to here this.

Point is, roosters can be pets, but the lessoned learned here?:

KNOW WHICH ROOSTER TO KEEP BEFORE GETTING ATTACHED!

I know its hard, but honestly, sometimes we have to suck it up and do whats best for the birds, not us. They may be "pets" but when the time comes, treat them like livestock and let it go. They've lived a nice life. It's better than being caged for all eternity.

 

[Chihuahuamom]

Geeze Potagegirl, don't be jealous cause I have air in my shed, and no I don't have the money or the space to build a whole other rooster pad, if I did I wouldn't be asking advice now would I? And I am not comfortable just sticking them in a little crate somewhere....People are So defensive, and no I wasn't happy with the "just kill em" responses. See I raised them from an egg and don't find it easy to just kill em, maybe it is strange to some but not to me. But to each his own right? I appreciate the responses for help, I don't appreciate the neg comments. If you don't like what you read you can move on. I'm sure glad I'm not as cold a person than most that raise chickens! Luckilly there are far more good on this sight than bad. People have been very helpful, so a thank you to them, for the others? go cull a rooster it'll make you feel better. PEACE

 

[PortageGirl]

No jealously involved. If I had a million dollars, I wouldn't install air conditioning in a chicken coop. I keep chickens that are suitable for my climate, I allow them to live as naturally as possible, though do cater to them somewhat, and my chickens are to some extent, pets, BUT they are not expected to behave in a manner that two human males would be. Humans males can control their desire to fight to the death over a female. Chickens cannot… they do not have the brain capacity to overcome their testosterone levels and instincts.

It's up to us to deal with the realities of animal husbandry.

 

[speckledhen]

The original poster has received good advice in this thread and since it's turned argumentative, I'm closing the lid on it. Thanks for your participation.