I want to scream ! Roosters fighting !!

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
I can totally relate to your frusteration, been there done that to a T. When i first started in this little adventure I didn't have a clue as far as roo to hen ratio goes and learned the hard way, when it came time to try and rehome the roos i had major issues, it took a very long time, I had several dog kennels set up in the garage to keep them seperated. I posted ads on CL too even talked to a chicken rescue place to see if they could help me, needless to say they made me feel like a fool and refused to help. Eventually we heard about a swap at the local feed mill and took them there, all sold within 2 seconds of dropping the tailgate on the truck, relief!!! Hang in there i know sometimes it feels like too much but things will settle down once those boys find new homes. Are there any swaps near you that you could take them to? Just when you think there is no hope something good happens

 

[yotetrapper]

Heat and air?? As in air conditioning?? Can I come live in your chicken coop??? I dont have air conditioning in MY house. And it gets durn right COLD in here in the winter when the woodstove goes out overnight. Your chickens have it better than me! LOL.

Soooooo you have your roosters penned together all in one place now? And they're not killing each other??

You should have no more than 1 rooster per 8 hens. If you have more than this you will have bald backed hens, without a doubt.

My best advice.... make soup!

Part of the problem imo with "urban chickens" (and this is not directly aimed at the OP, just in general) is that people who were not raised in the country around livestock have a hard time coming to grips with life on the farm. People who were raised around it usually have no problem realizing that when you start seeing bare backed hens, it's time to make soup. That time has come for me now, and I WAS planning on butchering this week but it's supposed to pour rain my two days off and I dont relish butchering in the rain.

Roosters are hard to get rid of, unless they are show quality bfreeder stock. Thats why the hatcheries send millions of roos to the dog food industry. You'll have to kill your roosters, or else build seperate pens for everyone. You said space is an issue, so if seperate pens are not an option, butchering is your only option.

If you do not know how to kill a chicken, the meat bird forum here should be able to help.

Despite what a lot of posters on here seem to think, chickens are really not pets. They are livestock. If people insist on keeping chickens as pets, they should defintely not get roosters, but instead stick to A couple of hens.

I'm sorry if this post ruffles any feathers, but it is my opinion, and I believe it to be true.

 

[Chihuahuamom]

LOL the last post cracked me up and yes they have air as in air....lol .......The two boys that are penned together were raised with each other and get along Great (so far). They are almost a year now so I don't expect them to have problems....Unfortunatley I don't think we have any swap meets around here but I could be wrong, I'll have to check into it....And the pryer post, I hate the thought of giving them up as well, but I guess that's what I have to do. The two frizzles are beautiful, they look like a show bird, they're perfect and very sweet...It's just they like all the girls alittle To much....Oh and I have 20 hens to two roos.....not enough ???...Oh and I said space is an issue, it is if I wanted the roos to have as large an encloure as the hens and a new shed an all...Ugh

 

[enola]

I apologized ! So, from now on, I won't read your posts. We will both be happier !

Best of luck.

 

[Chihuahuamom]

Enola, you did apoligize and then came back with another wise remark (?) So maybe its best we don't read each others posts:/

 

[columbiacritter]

If you don't ave room to move birds around as needed you have to many birds. If your roosters are tearing up your hens you have to many roosters. Even with one roo to eight hens he can still tear up favorites. I have saddles on my roos three favorites.

As someone raised on a farm I laugh at all the people trying to rehome roosters and advertising they only want to give them to people who will keep them as pets. Sorry, extra roos are stew. Honestly you are raising a product meant for consumption not kittens or puppies. If you can't handle the concept of your birds being eaten by yourself or someone else then don't have them.

I've put lots and ltos of meat in my fridge from Pet roosters.

 

[enola]

 

[Chicken Rustler]

I am SO AMAZED with this post! Starts out somebody understandably upset with a problem they are having and looking for advice. Several people are kind enough to offer some very good advice in thier opinion. OP takes offense at things that didn't seem directed at them. Fued insues!
Bottom line. CHICKENS ARE FARM ANIMALS and all animals will fight to establish a pecking order (no pun intended).
It is not feasible to keep all of them so you hit a point you must choose the ones that best fit your needs/likes We call this culling. That is when it becomes time to think with your head and not your heart.
Think about it is it better to let them fight and possibly suffer or allow them to do something more productive. Like become DINNER !

 

[bishopschickens]

I just cant understand the problem with roosters and people having trouble with the fighting. I have over 20 roosters in pen and atleast two together. Roosters are like anything else and will have their territory. you bring another rooster in they will fight! The biggest problem people have with hens having there backs tore up and roos fighting so much is not having enough room. If you let them out in the yard will they fight? sure but most will finally give up to the dominent rooster and your problems are solved. You will have your "coop" rooster. Now if they are in a tight area you will still have a problem. Its like yotetrapper said pull out a pot and make something with one or two of them.

Brandon

 

[laurenlulu]

have you tried Freecycle.org?