Merging Rooster Batchelor Pads

[Runawaylobster]

I successfully keep groups of roosters together, especially if they were raised together, but i am just getting logistically fried by keeping them in separate groups.

when i put hens together i do it in groups so that there is a complete re-shuffle and it works well,

I have also re-integrated two roos into a batchelor pad in a dog crate for a couple of weeks and then letting them mix in.

I have been considering starting with a totally new unfamiliar coop, away from hens, and merging roos together at night just like i do with the hens. I currently have about 13 roos, some with hens and some in groups together. All are different ages but none older than 1 year.
and none younger than 4 months. the plan being that they would all be unfamiliar with each other (ie; no ganging up on the newbie) and that they would just sort out the pecking order. The coop is 8 x 16 ft.



??????

just looking for some words of wisdom.

PS: these are not for eating they are breeding roosters.

 

[donrae]

I'm all for keeping as few pens going as possible!

I think your plan sounds very workable. I think you're verging on tight for space, but try it and see how things go. I'd do the night thing, and also put unfamiliar objects in the coop/run like logs, pallets, your old Christmas tree, things like that to distract them from each other.

Let us know how it goes!

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Does the coop have a run? I can see some serious fighting and chasing going on if there is that much testosterone in that small of a space.

I think Rachel has a great idea with putting objects in the coop to distract them from each other. Maybe you could make/buy a flock block that should give them a couple days of distraction.

 

[aart]

I would like to see a pic of that..Good Luck!