Not sure where to post this :(

[triala]

Not sure where this should go, but feel I need to talk to people who might understand. We have 16 girls, 3 boys, all sorts of breeds but mostly Welsummer, Rhode Rocks and cross-overs. Lately the boys have had discussions about who is top and I thought it had got settled. The two younger ones have done so - they are now fine together. But the last three four days the oldest boy and next one down have been really fighting badly, full crouch and hackles splayed, leaping at each other. After several fights yesterday the older one I think did give in - but the younger boy just has kept on attacking him.

Today it just kept happening, and the younger boy Needles was chasing Dwrp around whilst Dwrp was crying out loud, he was pinning him to the fences, leaping on him, pulling out feathers, biting off parts of his comb, etc. Dwrp was totally submissive and frightened, but Needles would not stop. I separated them into two areas with a fence mostly between, but whenever Dwrp tried to go towards the food and water, or shelter, Needles parallel followed him and wax clearly going to go for him again if he could. Sadly, we ended up deciding to cull Dwrp because he simply would not have survived the day, and better to have a quick clean death than be ripped to shreds by beak claws and spurs. I was seriously woried about a bloodbath this evneing, and what might happen.

None of them attack us, I hasten to add, and I had no problem catching and holding either boy, but Dwrp looked so terrified. Dwrp was 2 1/4, Needles is 9 months old and possibly his son, the third boy Col is 5 months. All hatched here, so quite emotioinal for me.

Did we do right? Reassurance needed.

 

[Brooks_]

I would have culled Needles, but hopefully the problem is solved nonetheless. Somebody had to go.

 

[M-H-Fielding]

I have had to do that with two of my favorite roos. Once they get too old to beat the younger ones they need to be separated. In my area there are way too many people getting rid of roos, so I can't get rid of them.
I wait until the young ones start beating them, then I cull them.
I have tried having two flocks, but that only stresses me out even more.

So sorry this happened to you! Roosters are always so easy to get attached to.

 

[Byrd gal]

So I hate when you have to choose between birds. I hope things calm down for you.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Did we do right? Reassurance needed.

I think so. Sometimes they can get along, sometimes they can't. The flock dynamics are always changing as we add or take way members or as they mature. You are living in the real world, not some idealized fantasy. These decisions are not always easy.

 

[Mrs. K]

They don't call it cock-fighting for nothing. If you have multiple roosters, you always need a plan B. Being a son, being raised together, having a lot of hens are no guarantees, and even a lot of space, sometimes does not work.

An elder chicken keeper once told me the key to having nice roosters was a sharp knife. I think you made the right decision. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[bobbi-j]

You did what you had to do. Chickens have no sense of family relationships. Father/son/brother means nothing to them. All they know is, another male means competition, and competition often means fighting.

 

[BGcoop]

I agree, it was the right thing to do to maintain peace. Sure you COULD have tried to rehome one of them, or tried to maintain two flocks, but those solutions would have had their drawbacks as well, in the end you always have to do what is right for YOU and your situation and while you may have times that you second guess yourself remember that you made the decision for a reason and try to think of those specific reasons when you are feeling unsure.

 

[Disintegration]

I'm so sorry you had to go through that.

You definitely did the right thing. If he wasn't going to survive the rest of the day, it's better that he didn't have to be in pain for that long.

I would keep a real close eye on Needles too, just in case. Wishing the best for you and your flock from now on!