Necessary Multiple Rooster Space in a Coop and Run

[angelinagreena]

Hi everyone! I have two roosters - an alpha and a beta, in addition to 11 hens. Currently my beta is shunned to the chicken coop and doesn't confidently come out to the run unless my husband or I are out there with him. We want to give him his own run space and to forage, and potentially add a few hens in the mix as well, but unsure if we have to also build his own coop. We have a coop that is big enough to add 20+ more chickens by the way, so I don't think coop space would be an issue (unless it becomes a territorial dispute in the end). Our alpha has no issues with the beta roosting in the coop now though. Has anyone had experience with this? Can you still keep two roosters in a coop with hens or is it best to provide them with their own space entirely? Any advice you have is most appreciated!

 

[SulkyBantam]

I would not like to keep him all alone. If it gets to that, he's better off with new home. or give him his own hens.
I have 2 cockerels and they are great friends. but they were together from day 1.

Keep an eye on it and see if it becomes a big issue.

 

[angelinagreena]

I would not like to keep him all alone. If it gets to that, he's better off with new home. or give him his own hens.
I have 2 cockerels and they are great friends. but they were together from day 1.

Keep an eye on it and see if it becomes a big issue.

Thanks! I'm not planning to keep him alone but I am wondering if the alpha will let him roost in the same coop at the end of the day. I just want the beta to have some run space too, and he currently isn't allowed to have that by our alpha. They also grew up together but just don't enjoy hanging out with each other. Our beta always acts like a victim around him

 

[SulkyBantam]

Haha! I understand.
But I think that keeping him alone will be really lonely for him. He needs his own hens, even if that means rehoming. I'm sorry about that....

 

[angelinagreena]

Haha! I understand.
But I think that keeping him alone will be really lonely for him. He needs his own hens, even if that means rehoming. I'm sorry about that....

I definitely don't want to rehome him (I'd prefer to rehome the alpha honestly), so the solution will probably be to just build him his own space and add our docile hens in there with him. Do you think they could all still roost in the same coop together though?

 

[SulkyBantam]

I'm not sure. How would you set this up so only one roo can get to his run?

They are more docile at nice so, potentially, yes...

Well, you could rehome the alpha! Just kidding, do give the beta his favourite hens and a private space and all should be well.

 

[aart]

We have a coop that is big enough to add 20+ more chickens by the way, so I don't think coop space would be an issue (unless it becomes a territorial dispute in the end).

How big is that, in feet by feet?
Pics?
How old are these birds, in weeks or months?

What you do here depends on your chicken keeping goals.
You really only need 1 male if your goal is to have fertile eggs.
If you hatch out more birds, there will be more males, so think about that too.
Keeping more than one male is just a personal preference...pretty birds, pets, etc.

If you coop is big, you may be able, and want, to partition off part of it, with a separate run, for a second flock.

I personally only keep one male, the rest go into the freezer.
I don't have the time, space, money, or inclination to provide for more.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@Folly's place
Tagging some folks that are knowledgeable about roos (among many other things)

Edited to remove a tag. I missed their reply somehow. I apologize @aart your reply must have posted while I was tagging you and it didn't update on my end until my reply posted

 

[angelinagreena]

How big is that, in feet by feet?
Pics?
How old are these birds, in weeks or months?

What you do here depends on your chicken keeping goals.
You really only need 1 male if your goal is to have fertile eggs.
If you hatch out more birds, there will be more males, so think about that too.
Keeping more than one male is just a personal preference...pretty birds, pets, etc.

If you coop is big, you may be able, and want, to partition off part of it, with a separate run, for a second flock.

I personally only keep one male, the rest go into the freezer.
I don't have the time, space, money, or inclination to provide for more.

Hi! It's an 8x12 shed that we converted into a coop. They are 7 months old.

The roosters were unintentional; I had ordered all hens and received a couple roosters...the beta rooster was originally mistaken as a female because he was a late developer, haha! At this point I just want to raise them all in a happy loving home. I enjoy having them as pets and receiving eggs is just a bonus to me.

 

[aart]

It's an 8x12 shed that we converted into a coop.

Perfect for your 13...I wouldn't add 20+ more in there tho.

At this point I just want to raise them all in a happy loving home.

Well, you can hope the boys get along long term.
Always good to have an isolation enclosure or crate for 'troublesome' birds.
When things get ugly it can happen fast.