- Mar 31, 2016
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Hello,
I have three roosters and in the fall the two younger ones (about a year old) attacked our old, disabled rooster. We separated them into a separate barn and decided to create a rooster only flock to solve our problem.
The two young ones, Moe and Murphy, had two pretty significant squabbles at first that were about a month apart. They were both equally bloody and swollen faces and one had a small laceration on his head that ended up healing well. I chalked these two initial fights up to figuring out how to live in their own space and who was in charge. They have been fine since.
I have seen no signs of stress and they seem to love each other. Just the other night was laughing to myself at how they seem to be best buds. Dust baths together and sleeping snuggled up together and chirping and purring when they see me and trying to show love to me. (Saying a lot since they were very unsocialized when we rescued them)
But tonight I go to the pen to say goodnight and shut the door and they are both bloody from head to toe. Swollen faces and Murphy’s area around his eye looks like he’s been decked in the face. He didn’t even get on the roost but was instead sleeping by the nightlight I keep in there. It seems to be some limping and mostly superficial wounds. I didn’t see anything serious but I’m seriously concerned that it’s now fight number 4 in the course of 5 months. (1st one with the main rooster, two at initial separation, and now another).
I’m so sad. The last couple of days I was making mental notes of how successful I had been at keeping a rooster only flock happy and hoping that in the future I could rescue more “unwanted” roosters and grow my little male flock. The ability to keep a rooster only flock successfully was a huge matter of pride and happiness for me as I firmly believe rescue is the only proper way to help animals.
The environment seems to be the best that I can make it. They have a 25x25 ft barn all to themselves, tons of vertical space and rafters and roosts added, nice warm pine shavings that are clean and dry, a tub of sand to dust bathe in, access during the day to a fenced, enclosed run that is about 12x12’, a swing, a night light. They don’t really like treats or human foods except blueberries so I try to give them those at least once a week. They have one feeder and two waters, items scattered to block visuals if they do get in disagreements and a stuffed animal that I leave in there should they feel the need to get any frustrations out on something (I’ve never seen it touched). The female flock with our old man have free range rights to the pasture outside their pen but only very rarely wonder far enough to be within view of the boys. (They are on opposite ends of the pasture)
The only thing I can rationalize is the change of season and maybe the girls wondered farther than usual making it so they felt frustrated and turned on each other. But I have no evidence of that.
I wouldn’t know what to use to block their view that would be both inexpensive and not terribly ugly.
Now I feel super defeated and unsure how I can help them. If I split them up I feel like they will just fight that much more when I reintroduce them and if I keep them together I’m afraid they will keep attacking each other and live in fear. I’m a strong advocate that no animal should have to live in fear in any preventable situation.
Any advice? What am I doing wrong? I don’t want to see them hurt… but I also don’t want to give them away only to see them end up dead on someone’s dinner plate. Is living in a home with the situation above and fighting still better than death?? I think so. But I want to make it so they are really enjoying life, not just existing.
Am I better off going and adopting a ton of female chickens and giving them a large enough flock to balance things out or am I better off giving the boys another chance?
I dread what I will wake up to tomorrow. I hope they don’t continue to fight in the morning.
Thanks in advance for any advice or expertise you may have.
I have three roosters and in the fall the two younger ones (about a year old) attacked our old, disabled rooster. We separated them into a separate barn and decided to create a rooster only flock to solve our problem.
The two young ones, Moe and Murphy, had two pretty significant squabbles at first that were about a month apart. They were both equally bloody and swollen faces and one had a small laceration on his head that ended up healing well. I chalked these two initial fights up to figuring out how to live in their own space and who was in charge. They have been fine since.
I have seen no signs of stress and they seem to love each other. Just the other night was laughing to myself at how they seem to be best buds. Dust baths together and sleeping snuggled up together and chirping and purring when they see me and trying to show love to me. (Saying a lot since they were very unsocialized when we rescued them)
But tonight I go to the pen to say goodnight and shut the door and they are both bloody from head to toe. Swollen faces and Murphy’s area around his eye looks like he’s been decked in the face. He didn’t even get on the roost but was instead sleeping by the nightlight I keep in there. It seems to be some limping and mostly superficial wounds. I didn’t see anything serious but I’m seriously concerned that it’s now fight number 4 in the course of 5 months. (1st one with the main rooster, two at initial separation, and now another).
I’m so sad. The last couple of days I was making mental notes of how successful I had been at keeping a rooster only flock happy and hoping that in the future I could rescue more “unwanted” roosters and grow my little male flock. The ability to keep a rooster only flock successfully was a huge matter of pride and happiness for me as I firmly believe rescue is the only proper way to help animals.
The environment seems to be the best that I can make it. They have a 25x25 ft barn all to themselves, tons of vertical space and rafters and roosts added, nice warm pine shavings that are clean and dry, a tub of sand to dust bathe in, access during the day to a fenced, enclosed run that is about 12x12’, a swing, a night light. They don’t really like treats or human foods except blueberries so I try to give them those at least once a week. They have one feeder and two waters, items scattered to block visuals if they do get in disagreements and a stuffed animal that I leave in there should they feel the need to get any frustrations out on something (I’ve never seen it touched). The female flock with our old man have free range rights to the pasture outside their pen but only very rarely wonder far enough to be within view of the boys. (They are on opposite ends of the pasture)
The only thing I can rationalize is the change of season and maybe the girls wondered farther than usual making it so they felt frustrated and turned on each other. But I have no evidence of that.
I wouldn’t know what to use to block their view that would be both inexpensive and not terribly ugly.
Now I feel super defeated and unsure how I can help them. If I split them up I feel like they will just fight that much more when I reintroduce them and if I keep them together I’m afraid they will keep attacking each other and live in fear. I’m a strong advocate that no animal should have to live in fear in any preventable situation.
Any advice? What am I doing wrong? I don’t want to see them hurt… but I also don’t want to give them away only to see them end up dead on someone’s dinner plate. Is living in a home with the situation above and fighting still better than death?? I think so. But I want to make it so they are really enjoying life, not just existing.
Am I better off going and adopting a ton of female chickens and giving them a large enough flock to balance things out or am I better off giving the boys another chance?
I dread what I will wake up to tomorrow. I hope they don’t continue to fight in the morning.
Thanks in advance for any advice or expertise you may have.
. The father Blanche is no longer with us unfortunately but was such a sweet bird. I’m sure yours are two and from what I hear they are BESTIES for the most part. They are just going through a horny epoch and May need some separation until they cool their heads. I’ve seen others successfully have bachelor pens and I’m sure yours will do quite well with some time.
