Rooster aggression

[Seed223]

So we have 14 chickens and ended up with 2 roosters (roos hatched on 7/1 so they are about 4.5 months right now). So far both of our roosters are very nice to people (they don’t necessarily want to be “cuddled” but they let us pick them up and love coming in every day for their grapes . I am very much aware that we do not have enough hens for each rooster and we don’t have any idea how would expand our coop because of the way it was built.

Here’s our problem: one of the roosters is plucking the feathers off the others neck. The one who is getting plucked has always had a limp and hobbles when he tries to run (he’s been to the vet multiple times and we don’t know what the issue is). Of course we have gotten attached to both of them (especially our daughter) and we are trying to figure out how to make this work. It mostly happens in the coop I think so we have considered moving the rooster who gets pecked to his own sleeping space overnight but I’m not sure if this will make things worse. I recently found out about peepers and ordered some but when I went to see how to put them on it sounds like they might not be the best option (and could potentially hurt them?). I am kind of at a loss. We used to let them free range all day but there have been a crazy amount of hawks here lately so now we have been keeping them in the coop/run. I don’t think our run is big enough (we will be expanding it soon)and I’m not sure if this contributes to the problem.

I have NEVER seen them fight with each other and oddly enough they usually eat and sleep next to each other. Do we have any options here? Would the peepers be a good option or should we do something else? Thanks in advance!

 

[azygous]

Give us a photo of the inside of your coop and the dimensions, including length of roosting perch.

Peepers don't hurt the chicken. They are flexible, unless you ordered the old fashioned metal ones with pins, and easily install with snap ring pliers. It's a good option for your situation.

Another solution, pending seeing your coop, would be to partition off a space on the perch so the two roos are separated. I staple a feed sack over the perch to stop conflicts between some pullets and the adults and it works splendidly. But the ceiling of my coop is low. This is why we need a photo of your coop interior.

 

[Oncoming Storm]

Take one of them out and give them their own space but keep them close enough so the flock doesn’t reject them if you put them back together (also 2 Roos and 12 hens is not a bad ratio)

 

[Seed223]

Take one of them out and give them their own space but keep them close enough so the flock doesn’t reject them if you put them back together (also 2 Roos and 12 hens is not a bad ratio)

This makes me feel a lot better!! I’m guessing if we have one of them their own space we would need to build a second smaller coop and keep it on the other side of the run? Posting pictures in just a few min

 

[Seed223]

Give us a photo of the inside of your coop and the dimensions, including length of roosting perch.

Peepers don't hurt the chicken. They are flexible, unless you ordered the old fashioned metal ones with pins, and easily install with snap ring pliers. It's a good option for your situation.

Another solution, pending seeing your coop, would be to partition off a space on the perch so the two roos are separated. I staple a feed sack over the perch to stop conflicts between some pullets and the adults and it works splendidly. But the ceiling of my coop is low. This is why we need a photo of your coop interior.

Ok so here’s the coop/run and the inside of the coop- we initially planned on only having about 8 chickens but then we had ours get attacked and lost one. We purchased 4 more from a breeder (straight run) and she gave us 8 to increase our chances of getting hens. We gave two roosters away and kept the sweetest ones. I think our coop is too small for 14 chickens but I have no idea how to expand it. It is 6’x5’ (about 5’ to the peak at the top from the base of the coop). We have 3 roosts right now (all roughly 4’ long) but are thinking of adding a lower one for our Buff Orpington which is the one getting picked on (he sadly sleeps on the ground as of now ). He is the one in the photos and you can see how his neck feathers are getting bare - all of his beautiful tail feathers are gone too . The lavender olive egger is the other roo who is doing the plucking. How would I partition off the roost for the roosters to both have a space? I am having a hard time picturing a feed sack. Thank you so, so much for your help!!!

 

[Seed223]

Would help if I attached the photos

 

[azygous]

Your coop doesn't lend itself to hanging a feed sack over a perch as a divider. But a sheet of rigid plastic with an "L" bracket fastened to it, then screwed to the top of the perch would be easy to install.

Partitions on the perch are an easy quick way to stop roosting aggression and conflict. It's worked for me every time I've done it over the years. I've used discarded tote lids screwed to the perch as well as feed bags hung from the ceiling. Whatever you need to do to provide a partition between the two roos.

If they are also picking each other during the day, then peepers would be a good solution. The peepers only affect forward vision, so they may not be effective on the roost where vision is side-to-side. So both solutions would be best.

 

[SulkyBantam]

Are they brother roos? We have 8 hens and 2 roos but they have hatched and grown together so don't fight. Can you rehome?

 

[LaFleche]

A very nice setup, although in my book too small to house 14 normal sized chicken, two of them being young and hormonal cockerels.

I would build another coop and run just like the one you already have and separate the roosters giving each 6 pullets.

Do you let them out of the run at all to roam in your yard or do they have to stay in there all the time?

 

[Seed223]

Your coop doesn't lend itself to hanging a feed sack over a perch as a divider. But a sheet of rigid plastic with an "L" bracket fastened to it, then screwed to the top of the perch would be easy to install.

Partitions on the perch are an easy quick way to stop roosting aggression and conflict. It's worked for me every time I've done it over the years. I've used discarded tote lids screwed to the perch as well as feed bags hung from the ceiling. Whatever you need to do to provide a partition between the two roos.

If they are also picking each other during the day, then peepers would be a good solution. The peepers only affect forward vision, so they may not be effective on the roost where vision is side-to-side. So both solutions would be best.

Thank you! So if we put a partition in will they naturally go on the opposite sides of each other? We will work on that today. I really appreciate your help!