Rooster Pecking Order?

[katelk]

I have 3 roosters. One of them has just recently come of age- he is about 10 months old. They all get along great and there was a clear rooster hierarchy. I had to remove one of my older boys for literally less than 48 hours to treat him for some frostbite back at the end of winter. Well that did it. I am kicking myself now. That threw off the pecking order. The boy I removed is a big guy and he was always on top, but he is SO docile that I have never seen him do anything aggressive or intimidating. He was just at the top because of seniority or something. Now the young roo (also docile, but scrappy) will give my older boy a little chase every once in awhile. They have not fought each other because the older one is so docile that he just avoids all confrontation. The young roo is almost 10 pounds and the older is 8-9 pounds. So the young one may be able to kick his rear. (Meanwhile my 4 pound silkie mix roo is the Alpha lol) I also noticed the young one will give the older a peck while he is crowing every once in awhile. It cuts his crow short.

My question is- is there a way to put the young roo back on bottom? There was never any chasing or anything when he was at the bottom, because the older roo was just so calm and docile. I don't want to mess it up further and I don't want to assume removing the young one for a bit will reset it, because then he may try to fight back to the top. Any suggestions?

 

[donrae]

It's impossible for a human to change the social structure. Sounds like your birds have worked things out well and I'd leave well enough alone.

 

[katelk]

It's impossible for a human to change the social structure. Sounds like your birds have worked things out well and I'd leave well enough alone.

Thanks for the reassurance! I guess I am just being an emotional human about it lol

 

[chick resq]

I would try removing the young one for a couple days. But I am a newbie.

 

[donrae]

I do understand having affection for the displaced rooster. I had Rocky as my head rooster for 4 years. He was perfect, never gave me any problems, was great to the ladies and made beautiful babies. Then one day, out of the blue, a younger rooster de-thronged him. I never saw any interaction between them, it must have been quick and decisive. Poor Rocky had 2 hens who still hung out with him, other than that he was pretty much an outcast from the flock. I felt so sorry for him, we wound up processing him a few months later even though I'd said I wouldn't. Honestly, I think he was miserable enough he didn't mind.....

 

[SIMZ]

I do understand having affection for the displaced rooster. I had Rocky as my head rooster for 4 years. He was perfect, never gave me any problems, was great to the ladies and made beautiful babies. Then one day, out of the blue, a younger rooster de-thronged him. I never saw any interaction between them, it must have been quick and decisive. Poor Rocky had 2 hens who still hung out with him, other than that he was pretty much an outcast from the flock. I felt so sorry for him, we wound up processing him a few months later even though I'd said I wouldn't. Honestly, I think he was miserable enough he didn't mind.....

Donrae - I just found your reply while searching this topic! My younger rooster seems to have usurped my older one and now won't let him join the flock. This started happening within about the last week and has escalated to this. Today I keep finding him off by himself looking sick....or maybe depressed? They always coexisted just fine, but will the younger just not let him around the flock now? Ugh.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Donrae - I just found your reply while searching this topic! My younger rooster seems to have usurped my older one and now won't let him join the flock. This started happening within about the last week and has escalated to this. Today I keep finding him off by himself looking sick....or maybe depressed? They always coexisted just fine, but will the younger just not let him around the flock now? Ugh.

Time holds still for no man.... or rooster for that matter. With enough hens the old boy may be able to cobble together a small harem on the outskirts of the flock, but I doubt that he ever will as long as his younger antagonist is around. Someone needs to go in the stew pot, the decision who goes is yours to make.

 

[SIMZ]

Time holds still for no man.... or rooster for that matter. With enough hens the old boy may be able to cobble together a small harem on the outskirts of the flock, but I doubt that he ever will as long as his younger antagonist is around. Someone needs to go in the stew pot, the decision who goes is yours to make.

Thanks! The youngster was already on his way out. Although, now I'm concerned the other guy is sick. After I posted, I went out and removed the younger rooster. Someone is "stew" on Saturday, so we'll see if the older guy perks up with Mr. Stud out of there. Otherwise, the older will have to go.

It's interesting. I've not that seen that happen before. Usually, the younger ones are always raised in the flock and have stayed in line. I learn something every day!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks! The youngster was already on his way out. Although, now I'm concerned the other guy is sick. After I posted, I went out and removed the younger rooster. Someone is "stew" on Saturday, so we'll see if the older guy perks up with Mr. Stud out of there. Otherwise, the older will have to go.

It's interesting. I've not that seen that happen before. Usually, the younger ones are always raised in the flock and have stayed in line. I learn something every day!

That is why I have advised chicken keepers less wise than you that a cockerel is not a rooster until he is a 2 year old and in the full glory of his days.