Keeping 2 Roos?

[kayjk27]

I have a small flock of 4 that have been together since hatch. They are 13 weeks old and 2 of them have turned out to be cockerels.

So far they are all very mellow birds. Is there any chance I could keep them all together without issue?

Someone was trying to tell me that since they've always been together and have "already established a pecking order" they should be fine together.

I'd really love for that to be true but I'm just not sure. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As they sexually mature you may change your mind as those young roosters will often start harassing the pullets. With 2 roosters to 2 hens your hens or soon to be hens will be mated constantly. It's no life for a hen to live like that. You need more hens to spread the mating out if you intend to keep the roosters. Generally 10-12 hens per rooster is the average.

It is sometimes possible to keep 2 roosters together without hens. Some get along, and some will fight. You probably won't see troubles until next spring.

 

[poultrymanager]

Hii! I once hatched 9 eggs, and five were boys. When they got older they started fighting over the hens, and with eachother, so we separated them from the flock and made a roo-only pen. (We had about 10 hens, five roosters.)

I don't know if it's different for other chicken breeds, but after four years two of the roos remain and they are inseparable brothers. It's great.

I would just keep an eye on your boys. Maybe they'll get along! If they start roughing up the hens then consider making them their own little enclosure. As long as they can stop fighting (if they do fight) and it's not to blood, yours boys may be okay together!

 

[chickens really]

I don't have a huge flock. I have 7 Hens and one Roo..I'm keeping my 3 Pullets and possibly the Cockerel if my Rooster doesn't beat him?..

 

[aart]

I have a small flock of 4 that have been together since hatch. They are 13 weeks old and 2 of them have turned out to be cockerels.

So far they are all very mellow birds. Is there any chance I could keep them all together without issue?

Someone was trying to tell me that since they've always been together and have "already established a pecking order" they should be fine together.

I'd really love for that to be true but I'm just not sure. Thanks in advance for any feedback!

It can be fine....or a train wreck.
Can depend on the demeanor of the birds involved and sometimes how they are housed. How much coop/run space do you have?

The biggest problem is that they will soon start harassing the pullets, wanting t dominate and mate a couple months before the pullets are ready.
Multiple males always create an environment of competition,
which can bring out the worst of behaviors in all of them.

If your goal is to have a few egg layers, I would suggest getting rid of both males.

The 'getting more hens' thing is not really a solution.
The 'rooster' to hen ratio of 1:10 that is often cited is primarily for fertility efficiency in commercial breeding facilities.
It doesn't mean that if a cockbird has 10 hens that he won't abuse or over mate them.
Many breeders keep pairs, trios, quads, etc
It all depends on the temperaments of the cock and hens and sometimes housing provided.
Backyard flocks can achieve good fertility with a larger ratio.

 

[Jlilly89]

Hello,
I also tried to keep 2 Roo's that were raised together but they became aggressive to one another and harassed my hens. My Rhode Island Red rooster seemed to be much more aggressive than my Buff Orpington. Good Luck if you decide to keep both