Rooster Rules

[Newchickadee30]

Hello,

What age do you need to start separating the boys from the girls in a group of chicks?
I want to protect them from young breeding(if they will try that), fighting for ladies and fighting each other?
Also if I have another coop about 35 meters away from my Hen House, can I put the roosters that were raised from hatch date together in that coop safely, until I can rehome or make soup with them?
I’ve always purchased older hens so this is my first time with chicks. Thank you

 

[Folly's place]

Mine all stay together, and move in with the adults after a side-by-side introduction, sometime at about five or six weeks of age.
The older birds do help civilize the youngsters, and then the excess cockerels move on, some sooner, and some later. It can be a bit interesting for a while, but i don't keep any who are being idiots very long.
Mary

 

[50-45-1]

Oh, you are going to know when it is time. Those boys hormones fire up approximately around 3 to 4 months and all he!! Breaks loose. Chasing, flogging, spuring, feather pulling and gang rape.
Mine are all together until I see the first episode of that. Next night they all go, except for one rooster that I keep.
good luck!

 

[Zan]

I do not separate my young roos. They stay in the flock till it's time for freezer camp. No issues, but I do have a large coop and run. They also free range in the afternoons.

 

[aart]

I leave the cockerels with the flock until about 14-16 weeks, then they get slaughtered.
Still tender enough for the grill and before they start causing too much havoc.
I don't have a separate place to keep them.....but you could separate them as soon as you want.