Background- you may skip to the dilemma if you dont want to read. 
I have two roos that were raised together. One is a SLW, the other BR. Since I bought them 18 months ago, they have been fine. Teaming up and taking care of the hens when free-ranging and then back to the coop at night. I unfortunately lost many of my hens, and have five remaining. I have an estimated 20 pullets Im growing in my brooder as replacements. Of course, just when I think I am almost in the clear, I look out to see two bloody roos duking it out in the backyard. I had to separate them by spraying them with the hose- they were so intent on each other. Skipping past the catching and sorting- Both were bathed, blow dried, and medicated. my dominant SLW was returned to the coop. My BR slept on my dining room table in a pet carrier bedded down with shavings. I went to bed knowing every one was safe and comfy. However, roosters that crow 10 ft away from where you are sleeping are quite possibly the best alarm known to man. I almost peed in the bed he startled me so much! I did expect him to crow, I did not expect it to be that loud. Granted, it did set the 25 chicks and 5 ducklings in thier respective brooders off. What a racket!
Dilemma:
Today I enclosed a 4x8 area under my raised coop in my enclosed run as a safe bachelor pad for my BR after all the fighting. He is mad, but safe, and not in my house. This cannot be a permanent fix. I am debating several scenarios.
1) hold off, keep him, and introduce all the new pullets in a month and see if the higher numbers solve the issue. (concern is that now they see each other as adversaries and I see this as more wishful thinking)
2) Rehome him/ eat him, and have just one roo. ( I love BR's, and lost all but one of my hens. I really wanted some chicks from her- no broody hen yet however)
3) Figure out how to introduce the BR cockerel that is in my brooder (that is my daughters favorite, she has dubbed him Elliot
) and hope that he turns into a good roo. ( This would make her happy, but how the heck do I get him accepted by my other roo?)
These two were my first roos. I had kept my flock of all hens for years, but decided to add in roos for safety as I was free-ranging more. I bought them together hoping to avoid all this- So any opinions would be appreciated. I am leaning toward introducing the cockerel- but am stuck on the how of that. Whatever I have needs to get along as I free-range all day. Thanks in advance for any responses!
I have two roos that were raised together. One is a SLW, the other BR. Since I bought them 18 months ago, they have been fine. Teaming up and taking care of the hens when free-ranging and then back to the coop at night. I unfortunately lost many of my hens, and have five remaining. I have an estimated 20 pullets Im growing in my brooder as replacements. Of course, just when I think I am almost in the clear, I look out to see two bloody roos duking it out in the backyard. I had to separate them by spraying them with the hose- they were so intent on each other. Skipping past the catching and sorting- Both were bathed, blow dried, and medicated. my dominant SLW was returned to the coop. My BR slept on my dining room table in a pet carrier bedded down with shavings. I went to bed knowing every one was safe and comfy. However, roosters that crow 10 ft away from where you are sleeping are quite possibly the best alarm known to man. I almost peed in the bed he startled me so much! I did expect him to crow, I did not expect it to be that loud. Granted, it did set the 25 chicks and 5 ducklings in thier respective brooders off. What a racket!
Dilemma:
Today I enclosed a 4x8 area under my raised coop in my enclosed run as a safe bachelor pad for my BR after all the fighting. He is mad, but safe, and not in my house. This cannot be a permanent fix. I am debating several scenarios.
1) hold off, keep him, and introduce all the new pullets in a month and see if the higher numbers solve the issue. (concern is that now they see each other as adversaries and I see this as more wishful thinking)
2) Rehome him/ eat him, and have just one roo. ( I love BR's, and lost all but one of my hens. I really wanted some chicks from her- no broody hen yet however)
3) Figure out how to introduce the BR cockerel that is in my brooder (that is my daughters favorite, she has dubbed him Elliot
These two were my first roos. I had kept my flock of all hens for years, but decided to add in roos for safety as I was free-ranging more. I bought them together hoping to avoid all this- So any opinions would be appreciated. I am leaning toward introducing the cockerel- but am stuck on the how of that. Whatever I have needs to get along as I free-range all day. Thanks in advance for any responses!
