Rooster and drake killing each other!

[enola]

Well, it seems to me that is the op's decision. We have both offered him options............

 

[collingwood]

I don't think I will separate them because if I can't put them back together what's the point of having a rooster without his hens? But I'll certainly do something! I'm not sure what the fight was over but it might be shade because it's really hot out there! I've built a small shade hut thing out of a broken bed and some shade cloth! But I think it's hotter under that than it is in the middle of the sun! I don't think it was over food because they had lots of food and they were under trees for shade!

 

[Michael Apple]

I've stated numerous times that chickens should be kept separate from waterfowl, turkeys, game birds, peafowl, etc. Still there's no shortage of people arguing against this common understanding among people keeping poultry for centuries. I hope both the OP's birds aren't injured and a sensible environment can be created to house preferred poultry separately.

 

[collingwood]

Thank you! There is no sign of them fighting anymore! But I still will be careful! Is there a way of getting rid of my roosters spikes on his legs without hurting him?

 

[Michael Apple]

There are some who have used the hot potato method:
https://sites.google.com/a/poultrypedia.com/poultrypedia/home/rooster-spurs-trimming-and-removing

I have always preferred to keep spurs short as roosters grow. Large dog nail clippers or a spur saw (it looks like a mini hack saw) can be used to keep them short. I use a steel nail file to round edges after clipping. It is always good to have blood-stop powder on hand, and give a Vitamin K supplement a day or two before shortening spurs, clipping nails, etc. I continue with vitamin K a day or two after clipping too. Here's an example of a K supplement: http://www.animart.com/store/koagulone-a-60-gram-packet/
Perhaps there is a comparable product in Australia, or you can use 25mg tablets at one a day.

 

[collingwood]

I'm not sure whether it's worth it! Because this is the only serious violent act that my rooster has done! But thanks anyway! If my rooster gets worse I will use your instructions thoroughly!

 

[Free Feather]

You CAN keep different bird types together. A spat or a few does not mean you ca not have them together. Do chickens not fight with other chickens frequently? If you like no disputes, the only way you would be happy is if each bird had their own pen.

 

[Michael Apple]

You CAN keep different bird types together. A spat or a few does not mean you ca not have them together. Do chickens not fight with other chickens frequently? If you like no disputes, the only way you would be happy is if each bird had their own pen.

I'm sure you know more than professors of poultry science, veterinarians, and the like, who know viruses which are often tolerated by waterfowl can be highly pathogenic to chickens, and recommend not only housing them separately, but preventing common contact. Avian influenza is one of those viruses. Perhaps you didn't know that Histomoniasis is perpetuated by allowing turkeys and chickens to range together/housed together. Those are just a few examples aside from the fact that varying sizes of bird species exhibit territorial / dominant behavior, which means aggression. Most of us who have raised chickens over a few decades understand reasoning in order to prevent problems, rather than encouraging them. Keeping roosters together has proven to be problematic time and again, yet some people think they know better by believing they can program egalitarian values upon an instinctual animal. These are the same mixed-flockers who believe they can house crested breeds with Rhode Island Reds until the crest of a Polish has been picked clean, and they either find it dead in the yard, or hiding in a corner almost dead. I'm sure this won't be the last thread where someone reports bickering/injuries/diseases happening between species, asks for help, then discards sensible solutions.

 

[Suzierd]

I would not keep ducks with chickens. The drakes can breed the hens and kill them. Plus all that Michael has mentioned disease, ducks are wet and messy, different diets. Fighting with the Rooster is bound to happen again you may not get there in time next time it happens. Just not a good idea.

 

[Free Feather]

The only way you can keep them separated is if you have a lot of space or you keep them penned up all the time, which comes with its own set of issues. Ducks are not messy if you have natural water sources. We have had multiple roosters together for a very long time, and if you give them enough space and take care of them properly, you do not have as much trouble as everyone claims you do. Diseases are a chance, but here we do not have any reported. Chickens also get diseases, countless deadly ones, from the dirt, worms, and native birds. Again, the only way you can stop this is if you house them like commercial poultry operations. I would rather someone free ranged multiple species than had a completely sterile environment for their chickens. Universities also promote commercial operations. But we are not talking about diseases.