I have kept a trio of cockerels together since last fall. Two are full brothers, hatched together, raised together, never been apart. They are now 8 months old. The older cockerel of 10 months old was the ring leader of the group and had been with them since November. Everyone got along great. Yesterday I sold the 10 month old (the one in the top spot of the pecking order) and all hell broke loose.
Now for the past week the two brothers (white and GDW) have had minor evening spats. Their evening spat last night (after the other cockerel had left) was a knock-down drag out cock fight. They were chasing each other, kicking, scratching, grabbing each other by the neck feathers and twisting each other's necks. I broke it up and put one cockerel in the coop and left the other one out. After 30 mins I let the one in the coop out and then they were fine the rest of the evening. This morning, I let them out, all was well for about a half an hour, and the chasing and fighting started again. Knowing they need to establish a new pecking order, I let it go and kept an eye on them inside through the security camera. Ten minutes of chasing and fighting by, then 20 minutes, then 30... and I'm thinking "surely they will get tired and stop." No. After 45 minutes of them chasing each other I went out to separate them and both were panting and falling down from exhaustion. My white cockerel is now red. He has a lot of blood on him. He can't open his right eye. The GDW only has about half his tufts left and a very bloody comb. I do not know how males establish their pecking order as this is my first cock flock, but to me this seems like they were trying to fight to the death.
The two are housed in a 4' x 4' coop. Their run in 10' x 25' with limbs, branches and hideouts. I do not think space is an issue. However I will add - they are right up against another run of hens and one cock. This has never been an issue before and everyone on both sides of the fence get along.
Has anyone with an all rooster flock ever experienced these problems before? Any advice?
The three amigos in better days:
Now for the past week the two brothers (white and GDW) have had minor evening spats. Their evening spat last night (after the other cockerel had left) was a knock-down drag out cock fight. They were chasing each other, kicking, scratching, grabbing each other by the neck feathers and twisting each other's necks. I broke it up and put one cockerel in the coop and left the other one out. After 30 mins I let the one in the coop out and then they were fine the rest of the evening. This morning, I let them out, all was well for about a half an hour, and the chasing and fighting started again. Knowing they need to establish a new pecking order, I let it go and kept an eye on them inside through the security camera. Ten minutes of chasing and fighting by, then 20 minutes, then 30... and I'm thinking "surely they will get tired and stop." No. After 45 minutes of them chasing each other I went out to separate them and both were panting and falling down from exhaustion. My white cockerel is now red. He has a lot of blood on him. He can't open his right eye. The GDW only has about half his tufts left and a very bloody comb. I do not know how males establish their pecking order as this is my first cock flock, but to me this seems like they were trying to fight to the death.
The two are housed in a 4' x 4' coop. Their run in 10' x 25' with limbs, branches and hideouts. I do not think space is an issue. However I will add - they are right up against another run of hens and one cock. This has never been an issue before and everyone on both sides of the fence get along.
Has anyone with an all rooster flock ever experienced these problems before? Any advice?
The three amigos in better days:
