Multiple roosters

[Kbake]

Ok, so here is my current situation….

I have an established Bielefelder rooster, Mr. Bach. He has 11 hens. One hen got broody back in early July and I got her some babies, 3 americanas and 1 bielefelder.

The 3 americanas ended up being roosters I was able to rehome the one handsome boy. And one boy broke his leg shortly after getting him, so he is a part time inside rooster, full time mommy’s boy.

My 3 young ones stick together for the most part. The two young roos established their hierarchy and had their little squabbles. Of course, mommy’s boy is low man on the totem pole.
As of now, everyone does alright together. The young ones are terrified of my 5 Rhode Island reds (they are like a small gang honestly). We have a 15X25 enclosed run and they come out to free range when we are outside with them. My one young roo dances for mommy’s boy which I’m assuming is to remind him that he is bigger.

But, I guess my biggest thing is, is this going to be a big problem in the future? Mr. Bach only chases the young Roos every now and then. And he doesn’t seem interested in the young hen. So, seems like the trio is a little pack. I’ll have a bigger coop built this spring and I’ll get a couple more hens. But for now, I think (hope) we are ok

Photos of all the handsome boys for attention…
Mr. Bach, Oakley (the black Americana) and Chilly Bird (the white Americana/mommy’s boy)

 

[PrettyCoolChicks]

They're beautiful! How old are the young ones? Did they start crowing?

They look juvenile still. You'll find out if they get along once they finish maturing. I would keep an eye on the situation and remove any if they become problematic. If you are building a new coop, are you keeping the old one? You might be able to keep 2 flocks, or have a bachelor pad if there is too much tension in a single flock.

If not, I'd think about what criteria you'd use to decide (e.g are they good to the hens? how well will they protect them? are they aggressive to you? to each other? Are you willing to bet on a new roo?). I'm not as adamant as others may be to remove all but one immediately, but chances are you will need to rehome/remove/separate most.

I started with 4 cockerells together which worked fine until they were about 6 month old last year. I ended up keeping 2 roos together that worked well together (siblings, green and blue). This year I ended up with another cockerell and I'm now trying for a dad-son duo, sadly green became problematic when the third hit puberty so I ate him...

 

[Kbake]

They're beautiful! How old are the young ones? Did they start crowing?

They look juvenile still. You'll find out if they get along once they finish maturing. I would keep an eye on the situation and remove any if they become problematic. If you are building a new coop, are you keeping the old one? You might be able to keep 2 flocks, or have a bachelor pad if there is too much tension in a single flock.

If not, I'd think about what criteria you'd use to decide (e.g are they good to the hens? how well will they protect them? are they aggressive to you? to each other? Are you willing to bet on a new roo?). I'm not as adamant as others may be to remove all but one immediately, but chances are you will need to rehome/remove/separate most.

I started with 4 cockerells together which worked fine until they were about 6 month old last year. I ended up keeping 2 roos together that worked well together (siblings, green and blue). This year I ended up with another cockerell and I'm now trying for a dad-son duo, sadly green became problematic when the third hit puberty so I ate him...

My big boy is from March of 2023. The other two were purchased around July 4th 2024. All are crowing. My house rooster only crows when he is alone in his coop or inside.

The black rooster crows a lot….he also only “dances” for my other young rooster. I’m assuming to assert some kind of dominance. He doesn’t bother the other ladies too much, sometimes he tries but they chase him or ignore him.

My house rooster can get dumb sometimes. I feel like he tries to make friends but is too dumb and too scared of the Rhode Island reds. He did chase my jersey giant all the way to the coop the other day. She is normally a “top hen” but I’m assuming she is a little vulnerable feeling since she is molting.

They are all friendly. The big rooster and the black one are friendly enough. They come up and come see me and hang around me. Obviously they run away when I try to touch them but so far, no aggression. My house rooster is a cuddle bug, especially in the evenings. He quickly jumps on my back/shoulder when he is done being with the “peasants”.

My goal is to not eat them and try and make it work. My only concern is my big rooster is a good boy but not super aggressive/bossy. I feel like our one tiny hen is the real boss of the group. So I worry my little black rooster might try to take over.

My house rooster has his own personal coop. He shares the big run with everyone though. He prefers to sleep in there alone. Even though I told him he might need a couple buddies to stay warm this winter

 

[Perris]

Mr Bach is going to assume the youngsters are his offspring, as he was the only male before, and they have been raised by a broody in the flock, so I would not expect there to be issues. Some disciplinary light pecks and some chasing to remind everyone where they are in the pecking order is the norm. The youngsters need to sort out where they are in relation to each other, but typically that's done quite quickly and without much if any bloodshed, and from what you write, it sounds like they've done that already. In due course they will want to establish dominance over the hens, and it's a similar sort of process; bossy old hens usually relent and may even come to prefer a toy boy over the old man of the flock.

But, I guess my biggest thing is, is this going to be a big problem in the future? Mr. Bach only chases the young Roos every now and then.

I would expect this to continue. If and when the cockerels get to mate with a hen, he may charge to knock him off her, or he may not, but that's all that'll change, in my experience. The cockerels will knock each other off a squatting hen too. And occasionally they'll forget themselves and run as if to knock the dom off, before realizing their mistake and coming to a swift halt There's no need to stress over any of it normally.

And he doesn’t seem interested in the young hen.

He will when he detects she is about to start laying. He won't waste his sperm and his energy till then.

Edited to add a photo to reassure you; these 4 are all comfortable with each other. The dom is on the left.

 

[chooki]

I think they will get along fine, although I would get an extra enclosure ready just in case someone needs some cooling off period or alone time.

This is my little bachelor flock:

They are from 3 different batches (I rehome roosters whenever I could - usually the pure breed, nice laced ones).

There were fights, some fights were bloody, but NONE resulted in permanent injury or death.

 

[Kbake]

I think they will get along fine, although I would get an extra enclosure ready just in case someone needs some cooling off period or alone time.

This is my little bachelor flock:

View attachment 3988502

They are from 3 different batches (I rehome roosters whenever I could - usually the pure breed, nice laced ones).

There were fights, some fights were bloody, but NONE resulted in permanent injury or death.

This gives me hope!
Now I just gotta get my house rooster to stop “having his way” with the dog toys