Ostracized Rooster - Need Advice

[Acre4Me]

Oh yes...Cockerels. I have 23 birds in a coop that is 7'x10'

Put one in a tractor by himself - he’ll be fine. gets you to the age to butcher with peace in theflock.

 

[farmyardchic]

Put one in a tractor by himself - he’ll be fine. gets you to the age to butcher with peace in theflock.

Thank you.

 

[farmyardchic]

Just youngsters - Cockerels at that age.
Sounds like they need more space - how much room do you have? Sqft of coop/run?
How many pullets (girls) do you have?

If they are fighting and this one is dejected already, then separate him with his own food/water, his health will suffer if he's being picked at from the other one.
Nothing says you can't keep him until he matures, he may actually turn out to be a better rooster - you never know.
Youngsters can be a pain and cockerels the same age as the pullets they are with can be an even bigger pain with pestering the girls. You may find that you need to separate the dominant one to his own space too until he's more mature.

Oh. I hadn't thought of that. I've got 21 hens and 2 cockerels. 70 sq ft in the coop but more in the pen. Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh. I hadn't thought of that. I've got 70 sq ft in the coop but more in the pen. Thank you.

70sq ft may be a bit tight for 23 large fowl that includes 2 cockerels.
How much space is in the run? Try to aim for at least 10sq foot of run space. So that would be a minimum of 230sq foot.
You may want to have a plan/place for separating out the more dominant cockerel too if he becomes a pain. They are usually more sexually "mature" than pullets their age and run the pullets a little crazy.

 

[farmyardchic]

70sq ft may be a bit tight for 23 large fowl that includes 2 cockerels.
How much space is in the run? Try to aim for at least 10sq foot of run space. So that would be a minimum of 230sq foot.
You may want to have a plan/place for separating out the more dominant cockerel too if he becomes a pain. They are usually more sexually "mature" than pullets their age and run the pullets a little crazy.

It's an uneven space but probably at least 140 sq '. Good idea. I have noticed the dominant cockerel starting to irritate the girls. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's an uneven space but probably at least 140 sq '. I have noticed the dominant cockerel starting to irritate the girls as you say.

When you get a chance, post some photos of your set-up.

LOL They can be irritating at that age. If it gets too much, then pen him too.

140 is also tight for that many birds. If possible, give them more space.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

How old is this rooster?
How old are the hens?
It won't kill him to pen him by himself, he will adjust.
Having 2 roosters together a lot of times just does not work. If you want to keep him, then maybe get him his own hens.

Processing him or re-homing are a couple of other options.

I second this. I have a naked neck who is just too big for most of our hens so he had to live by himself for a few weeks until i had a girl big enough to be bred by him if he tried to. He's mostly just concerned about getting his food on time

 

[farmyardchic]

When you get a chance, post some photos of your set-up.

LOL They can be irritating at that age. If it gets too much, then pen him too.

140 is also tight for that many birds. If possible, give them more space.

I open the coop and the pen door first thing in the morning usually around 6:30 a.m. but when I have to be away I put them all in the pen but one cockerel and 1-3 chickens escape with him.

 

[farmyardchic]

70sq ft may be a bit tight for 23 large fowl that includes 2 cockerels.
How much space is in the run? Try to aim for at least 10sq foot of run space. So that would be a minimum of 230sq foot.
You may want to have a plan/place for separating out the more dominant cockerel too if he becomes a pain. They are usually more sexually "mature" than pullets their age and run the pullets a little crazy.

He's been grabbing them on the neck with his beak and twisting. I'm not sure if this is Klingon love play or agregious domination. They squawk and try to get away from him. (Just not ready yet? hate him?)

 

[Vickischics]

I open the coop and the pen door first thing in the morning usually around 6:30 a.m. but when I have to be away I put them all in the pen but one cockerel and 1-3 chickens escape with him.

Where are you that you got snow?
Well, you have to understand my dumb question because I'm in Sunny, Hot and Humid Florida.
Send my chickens some snow!!! They could use it about now. Lol