My Roos got into a fight; I feel so stupid.

[Faverolle Lover]

I had two rosters do the same thing once, both raised together, and they never had any skirmishes until I went out one night to what looked like a murder scene.
Something that I found helps stop bleeding (I had a chicken go lethargic after she only broke a toenail, chickens can lose blood fast) use corn starch in some of the worse wounds that don't want to seal, but sadly it'll wash off easily so I had a very disgruntled bird for a few days after I fixed her claws so that she could naturally heal.
Rosters are very hardy, I've had one who had survived multiple fights, a run in with a skunk, a spiral fraction on his leg, and a weird comb infection and he's still the only roster I've raised that has never pecked anyone and loves cuddling (he's a massive bird too, none of the neighbors believe me when I say he's nice )
Your boys will probably be fine within a week or so, and stagger introducing them works wonders, but I would suggest being ready to break up a fight as soon as it starts for the next few days.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've given both a bath with plain water as they were bleeding pretty badly. No major wounds as far as I can see: most of the cuts are on the combs and wattles.
They are both inside the house in separate cages with towels because they are too wet to put outside.
Is there anything I need to watch for?

>the freezer is an option as well.
The freezer is not an option. I love them both.
And, frankly, I'm sick of people saying the freezer is "an option" for any rooster issue there is.
It was my fault, though, in my defense, they've never fought before and they've been together since the younger roo was a chick. (A little over a year.)
The younger one always respected the older one, and oddly, the older one would be upset if I handled the younger one and caused him to squak.
I brought them inside the house for about a week and put the little roo in his own cage. They were right beside each other the entire time, could touch etc. I put them outside in the enclosure like I always do, came back an hour later to see one roo hiding and both bloody.
I feel so, so stupid and horrible.
I am going to house them separately. I have the capability to do that.
I just need to know what infections, etc to look for.

What does wheezing indicate? What do I do for it?
One of them was wheezing, though, admittedly it was after I put him into the shower and rinsed him off. It may have been that I got water down the wrong pipe.

The freezer is an option. You dont have to do it, but others do and it's food on the table that matters to some.

@grnidone How are your roosters today?
If you have photos of their injuries, that would be great.

I agree, rinse the wounds and apply triple antibiotic ointment or use something like BluKote. If only the combs/wattles are damaged, they may not need anything on them.
The wheezing is a bit concerning - hopefully that has resolved itself.

May I ask why you brought them in for a week into separate cages? Cold weather, other illness, etc.?

Sorry that you feel that the freezer is not a viable option when dealing with too many roosters (or cockerels/pullets/hens). I partially agree with what @dawg53 has suggested, but personally if I were just culling 1 rooster, I would forgo the freezer and opt for a nice soak/resting period in the fridge for a couple of days and have a nice meal this weekend

There are many ways to resolve roosters not getting along and housing them separately surely is a good option as well.
You never know when dealing with rooster (even hens) all can be getting along fine, then suddenly it's not, so having additional space is a good idea.

I hope they are not too badly beaten up and heal just fine all goes well for you.

 

[Skipper81]

In my experience they will fight until it’s worked out and then it’s done
I currently have 10 roosters living with 20 hens not free ranging either
I don’t think they want to kill each other it’s how they work out pecking order
I take a rooster put him in a breeding coop for a few weeks and when I reintroduce him to the flock he fights for his spot back
Average 11 minute then they are tired and have it all worked out

 

[Skipper81]

Why did you bring them in the house for a week and put them in separate cages and then put them back out?
Just curious because I believe that’s the cause of this battle and I wouldn’t separate them anymore

 

[Shadrach]

>the freezer is an option as well.

The freezer is not an option. I love them both.

And, frankly, I'm sick of people saying the freezer is "an option" for any rooster issue there is.

It was my fault, though, in my defense, they've never fought before and they've been together since the younger roo was a chick. (A little over a year.)

The younger one always respected the older one, and oddly, the older one would be upset if I handled the younger one and caused him to squak.

I brought them inside the house for about a week and put the little roo in his own cage. They were right beside each other the entire time, could touch etc. I put them outside in the enclosure like I always do, came back an hour later to see one roo hiding and both bloody.

I feel so, so stupid and horrible.

I am going to house them separately. I have the capability to do that.

I just need to know what infections, etc to look for.

Seriously, do not feel bad, or feel you've mishandled the situation.
Roosters fight. Most I've had here do it from time to time.
What takes a bit of observation and practice is working out if they will fight and forget, or fight until one dies.
I get a fight every couple of weeks here. They don't last long now and rarely even draw blood. It wasn't like that at the start.
Sometimes once they've sorted out who is boss, that will do. Every now and then the junior may test the boss to see if he can still 'cut it' so to speak.
If there is plenty of space for the loser to get away then I leave them to it.
The combs and wattles tend to bleed a lot but a dab of Betadine gel after cleaning is usually all that's needed.

 

[grnidone]

Why did you bring them in the house for a week and put them in separate cages and then put them back out?
Just curious because I believe that’s the cause of this battle and I wouldn’t separate them anymore

Because my stupid neighbor wanted to stir the pot. I've had my chickens for 2 years and he always said he never had an issue with my birds. In fact, he told me and others in town that he had no issues with them and he couldn't even hear them.

Suddenly, he heard them crow. So he called the dog catcher lady (who is a terror) and I got a fine.

So I put the birds inside the house until I could figure out how to make rooster collars.

Small town politics suck. This is also part of the reason I am in such a crappy mood about the freezer talk.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

.

 

[grnidone]

Roosters are allowed in town so long as they are not a nuisance.

Excessive crowing is a nuisance, and the neighbor decided after 2 years my rooster suddenly started crowing.

What really stinks is that I talked to all of my neighbors one on one. I knocked on their doors and asked them if my roosters were too loud (before all of this, when I first got my chickens.)

I told them if there were any issues, to knock on my door or call me (and left them my number.)

I said specifically, "You know, I know chickens aren't for everyone. I don't want to be the neighbor that people hate."

"If there are any issues, just call me and I'll put collars on my roos to mute the sound. Or, if you think they smell, I'll clean the coop. Just call me and I'll take care of it."

All have assured me "No, we don't hear them when I'm in the house." (One was the guy who reported me.)

Two neighbors told me,"I love hearing your rooster crow in the morning. It reminds me of my childhood."

So when he called the dog catcher and reported it instead of calling me...yeah, I was HOT.

 

[grnidone]

One more thing: I love roosters.

I hate that they often only get one chance. And, if they screw up they pay with their life.

I think that's kind of crappy.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Because my stupid neighbor wanted to stir the pot. I've had my chickens for 2 years and he always said he never had an issue with my birds. In fact, he told me and others in town that he had no issues with them and he couldn't even hear them.

Suddenly, he heard them crow. So he called the dog catcher lady (who is a terror) and I got a fine.

So I put the birds inside the house until I could figure out how to make rooster collars.

Small town politics suck. This is also part of the reason I am in such a crappy mood about the freezer talk.

Well, how are they doing?

I'm sorry that you are angry and seem to be in a bad situation - stinks that you got a fine for having roosters? Are they "illegal" where you live?

I do believe that a lot of people read your questions/comments
I know I did.

Posts that were given to you did give you other options - housing them separately if they don't get a long, rehoming and yes freezer camp. What other solutions are there?

I did see that you mentioned you can house/keep them separate. That's great.

I understand you are upset, so if typing all this, cursing, telling us how unfair life is and how much we want to kill the rooster makes you feel better and relieves the tension.
Have at it. Let it out, have a cry, scream at the screen. Let Me have it! I can take it, and I'll come back for more and you can let me have it again