Permanently split or no?

[raingarden]

The world is too cruel to roosters for us to be okay with rehoming any boys.

A bachlor flock can work sometimes, but there is no guarantee they won't fight. Sometimes they work it out; sometimes not. It's debatable whether or not being in a bachlor flock is a good life.

If rehoming or culling roosters is cruel, the time to think about it is before hatching chicks.

 

[LaFleche]

Thank you so much for the advice!
I have another small question, I know hens slow they’re laying in the winter, but do roosters also breed less?

My I’ve only seen my boys fight a few times and interestingly, a third rooster often jumps in and breaks it up. Is that normal?

The girls are also the same age as the boys so most aren’t laying yet and the boys know it so the layers get most of the attention. Also five mature hens we have are rescues and still growing back their feathers so they don’t live in the coop at the moment. Fingers crossed more hens means less problems.

Initially the boys were really bad at handling the girls but in just a few months they seem to have figured it out and aren’t rough anymore (still head grabbing though). I really noticed it when my Brahma finally hit puberty and after everyone else and started grabbing girls left, right, and centre. Hopefully the trend continues and they keep getting better. I’ll definitely have something in place in case it doesn’t though.

I have one Brahma (he’s the biggest), an Australorp/Ameraucana mix (one of two top roos, the bossy one), a Rock/Ameraucana mix (handsome man with a very silly crow), a Barnevelder (one of the two top roos, the gentle and protective one), an Appenzeller Spitzhauben (he’s a spaz so he gets picked on a little for scaring the others), and finally a bantam Cochin (clever nugget, gets along with everyone, stays out of trouble unless nobody’s looking). So one bantam rooster, also two bantam hens.

Going by your description, I would keep the Barnevelder and the bantam Cochin cockerel and rehome/separate the others.

Although I understand your concern for the wellbeing of the cockerels, I wonder if you realize that it is at the cost of the pullets/hens health. They need protection from overly hormonal cockerels that are trying to figure it out and of course will be triggered to overbreed them because of the ongoing competition from the other males.

It is not an easy decision to make, but it comes with the responsibility as chicken owner/caretaker.
And in case you cannot bring yourself to rehome the surplus males, separate them in their own coop and spacious run out of sight from the females to reduce fighting and crowing.

 

[Magpie2]

A bachlor flock can work sometimes, but there is no guarantee they won't fight. Sometimes they work it out; sometimes not. It's debatable whether or not being in a bachlor flock is a good life.

If rehoming or culling roosters is cruel, the time to think about it is before hatching chicks.

Personally I think a good life for animals depends more on a healthy environment than who their company is. With enough space and enrichment, I don’t think it matters if there are girls around.

I have nothing against people who rehome or cull their birds. But these birds are like pets to us and unlike a dog or cat, there’s no guarantee that their new home will think of them the same way.

My way is right for me, your way is right for you. I’m not trying to change what anyone else does, I just want certain things for my birds.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

A bachlor flock can work sometimes, but there is no guarantee they won't fight. Sometimes they work it out; sometimes not. It's debatable whether or not being in a bachlor flock is a good life.

If rehoming or culling roosters is cruel, the time to think about it is before hatching chicks.

Junglefowl roosters choose to form bachelor flocks in the wild. Breeding hens isn’t necessary for a rooster to have a good life. However, I agree that it would not be a good life if they have inadequate space without any enrichment, but that can be said for any chicken.

 

[Magpie2]

Going by your description, I would keep the Barnevelder and the bantam Cochin cockerel and rehome/separate the others.

Although I understand your concern for the wellbeing of the cockerels, I wonder if you realize that it is at the cost of the pullets/hens health. They need protection from overly hormonal cockerels that are trying to figure it out and of course will be triggered to overbreed them because of the ongoing competition from the other males.

It is not an easy decision to make, but it comes with the responsibility as chicken owner/caretaker.
And in case you cannot bring yourself to rehome the surplus males, separate them in their own coop and spacious run out of sight from the females to reduce fighting and crowing.

Thanks! That’s exactly why I’m asking for advice. The cockerels are doing fine but something needs to change for the girls sake.

Personally if I had to pick which roos to keep with the hens I’d have the Barnevelder, and the Spitzhauben. Maybe the Australorp cross since he actually likes the Barnevelder and doesn’t compete with him either (they grew up with the two older hens and all get along) he can be rough but he’s been getting a lot better lately. The Spitz tends to be more gentle with the girls and doesn’t hang out with any boys while the Cochin bantam can sometimes be rough and he’s pretty close with the Rock cross, they like to hang out.

The newest 5 hens are basically rescues from a hatchery. They’ve clearly been way overbred and I have no plans to let them relive that experience.
They’re the first adult birds we’ve brought home and we’ll stick to adults so we don’t get any more boys.

The last picture is more recent. You can see her feathers on her head are looking much better than the first shot.

Would keeping separated males in view of the females cause fighting? I’ve definitely heard that it can but I find it hard to imagine with my boys and how they get along.

 

[Magpie2]

Junglefowl roosters choose to form bachelor flocks in the wild. Breeding hens isn’t necessary for a rooster to have a good life. However, I agree that it would not be a good life if they have inadequate space without any enrichment, but that can be said for any chicken.

That’s really cool! I didn’t know that about junglefowl.

 

[LaFleche]

Personally if I had to pick which roos to keep with the hens I’d have the Barnevelder, and the Spitzhauben.

Sounds good to me.

The newest 5 hens are basically rescues from a hatchery. They’ve clearly been way overbred and I have no plans to let them relive that experience.
They’re the first adult birds we’ve brought home and we’ll stick to adults so we don’t get any more boys.

Goodness! Poor girls, never in my 20+ years of chicken keeping have I seen such abused birds!

Would keeping separated males in view of the females cause fighting? I’ve definitely heard that it can but I find it hard to imagine with my boys and how they get along.

Their hormones just started to kick in and although you find it hard to believe (still judging from their behaviour as chicks), they will turn aggressive and competitive with the hormonal overflow, their personality can switch from friendly and docile one moment to combat fighting mode the next.
And just wait for next spring to come and hit them full force...

The sight of females triggers their aggressive behaviour and they will try to diminish competition by fighting, chasing away or even killing other males as they perceive them no longer as buddies, but as rivals.

 

[Stellasmomma]

Glad to hear it. I feel like I would be taking a risk though and it’s not on the table right now

I rehomed 6 Roosters this year! They all went to good homes who needed a Roo for their flock! Good people are out there who really do want the Roosters for the right reasons but I definitely understand your concern