Inadvertently hatched out 5 roos

[Barry42001]

IMO, the cockerels fighting among themselves is the least of your worries. The bigger issue: As they reach puberty, they turn into hormonal jerks. They will be incessant with their rough treatment of all of the females in your flock. I hope you are set up to give them their own bachelor pad. Agreed with Mrs. K. You need a plan B available at all times. I would not try to raise cockerels out for meat without a bachelor pen.

 

[Barry42001]

Big daddy roo in middle rides shotgun over hens he is the roo's daddy and provides ahhh guidance

 

[Ridgerunner]

Big daddy roo in middle rides shotgun over hens he is the roo's daddy and provides ahhh guidance

That's pretty normal. When my cockerels bother the hens the hens normally run to the dominant rooster if they don't handle it themselves. He explains to junior that there are certain advantages to being senior.

It's different with the pullets that have not matured to the point they have joined the main flock. That's usually when they start laying, joining the main flock. The dominant rooster won't let the cockerels mate the pullets in front of him, but the pullets don't know to run to the dominant rooster for protection.

Sometimes it can get rough with the cockerels and pullets, but even with 12 cockerels and four pullets 23 weeks old and the pullets not laying, I did not see any gang-banging or mass raping of the pullets by groups of cockerels. Over the years I've seen that behavior with a couple of broods, that means two different broods, but that behavior of gang rape is not normal with my flock. The boys usually get rowdy and the pullets usually don't cooperate but it just doesn't normally get that rough. That's why I suggest you have a plan B ready but try it and see how it goes.

 

[Mrs. K]

How big is your run and coop Ridgerunner? Space and the management of space with obstacles, hideouts, and multi-levels I think makes a difference.

 

[Alecia Davidshofer]

That's pretty normal. When my cockerels bother the hens the hens normally run to the dominant rooster if they don't handle it themselves. He explains to junior that there are certain advantages to being senior.

It's different with the pullets that have not matured to the point they have joined the main flock. That's usually when they start laying, joining the main flock. The dominant rooster won't let the cockerels mate the pullets in front of him, but the pullets don't know to run to the dominant rooster for protection.

Sometimes it can get rough with the cockerels and pullets, but even with 12 cockerels and four pullets 23 weeks old and the pullets not laying, I did not see any gang-banging or mass raping of the pullets by groups of cockerels. Over the years I've seen that behavior with a couple of broods, that means two different broods, but that behavior of gang rape is not normal with my flock. The boys usually get rowdy and the pullets usually don't cooperate but it just doesn't normally get that rough. That's why I suggest you have a plan B ready but try it and see how it goes.

12 cocks 4 girls brave momma

 

[Ridgerunner]

How big is your run and coop Ridgerunner? Space and the management of space with obstacles, hideouts, and multi-levels I think makes a difference.

I absolutely agree, space is extremely important. A lot of my measurements are going to be approximate, for a lot of this I didn't worry about a 1/4" here and there. My main coop is 8' x 12', the ceiling is probably 10 to 12 feet high, I enclosed the end of a loafing shed to make the coop. My main run is about 14' x 32'. I have an area about 45' x 65' enclosed in electric netting. With my climate and my willingness to open the pop door and let them decide what they want to do regardless of the weather they are outside practically all day every day.

I also have a 4' x 8' grow-out coop positioned where I can section off an 8' x 14' section of the main run for use of any chickens in that. And I have a 4' x 8' shelter inside that electric netting area I can use if I need to. I have a lot of flexibility if I need to lock some chickens up.

I think another of my advantages is that I grew up with a flock of free ranging chickens, including roosters. Broody hens raised all flock replacements. I've seen how chickens behave in a flock. Chickens are not delicate birds. They can be quite vicious toward each other but they tend to not hurt each other. It's called the pecking order for a reason.

I'm going to exaggerate a bit to make the point. People see a chicken peck another chicken. "Oh, it's a disaster, it's an emergency! Call out the National Guard! This behavior has to stop and right now! Someone is going into time out!" To me that is chickens being chickens.

There are some chickens (male and female) that are just brutal. There are times you need to intervene. Puberty can get really rough. There have been a few times I've turned that grow-out pen into a bachelor pad for cockerels until they reach butcher size but most of the time I let them stay with the flock until I'm ready to put them into the freezer. If I see one chicken being a problem, regardless of sex or age (once they reach a certain size) they pretty quickly wind up in the freezer. Or they are separated from the flock until they get bigger. That's my Plan B.

I have seen pullets stay in the coop practically all day, avoiding the cockerels. As long as those pullets are not being hurt I don't worry about it. In my opinion that is not going to affect their development. I don't try to micromanage the flock, I let the chickens manage their social interactions as much as I can. I also have several feed and water stations inside the coop and outside so they don't have to face an aggressive chicken to get something to eat and drink.

I'm more laid back in my management techniques than a lot of people. In my opinion, as long as no one is getting hurt why not let them be chickens and work it out themselves.