Rooster vs. Rooster

[Shawnee Town]

Hi all,
At the 1920's living history museum where I work we have a 2-1/2 year-old Rhode Island Red rooster (Lindy) and a 1-year-old Barred Plymouth Rock rooster (Duke). Lindy had an infection and was moved to another smaller chicken house where he could be given one-on-one care and our veterinarian said last Friday he is now healthy and able to rejoin the old flock. The problem is, he was away 3-1/2 weeks and the younger rooster had asserted his dominance during that time. When I reintroduced Lindy to the others I had to break up the fight that ensued because it looked like they were both evenly matched and were determined to win. I know they have to do that to work out the order, but because they were both determined, I decided I had to break it up before either got hurt or killed. I moved our older rooster back to the other facility until I could figure out what to do. My question is:
Has anyone dealt with this before? Is there a way to get them both in the same flock, or are those days gone forever? Before I start looking for a caring home for Lindy, I'd like to exhaust all possibilities here because he really is an outstanding bird. Thanks,
Charlie

 

[Abriana]

I would say build a separate run for Lindy and keep him in there with maybe two hens so that Duke can see him but not get to him. After a while, you can have them together for short, supervised periods, and if these go well, slowing begin keeping them together until they become friends again. This may work, or it may not. This is how i get chicks introduced to the flock and there is usually no fighting. If it doesn't work, you should pick the cock you like best and give the other away, or make a separate pen for the other and give him some hens so you can keep both Duke and Lindy. I hope this helps nad if you have any further questions you can always ask!

 

[Kiki]

How many hens do you have?
Two rooster could be one too many, when it comes to the health of your hens.

 

[Abriana]

Oh, I forgot to mention that. You need about twenty five hens per rooster for two or more.

 

[Kiki]

A good rule of thumb is 10 to 12 hens per rooster.

 

[Abriana]

I guess either amount would work, twenty five is what i read but ten or twelve would be easier.

 

[Shawnee Town]

I would say build a separate run for Lindy and keep him in there with maybe two hens so that Duke can see him but not get to him. After a while, you can have them together for short, supervised periods, and if these go well, slowing begin keeping them together until they become friends again. This may work, or it may not. This is how i get chicks introduced to the flock and there is usually no fighting. If it doesn't work, you should pick the cock you like best and give the other away, or make a separate pen for the other and give him some hens so you can keep both Duke and Lindy. I hope this helps nad if you have any further questions you can always ask!

Thank you.

 

[Abriana]

Let me know how it goes!