Roosters fighting - advice please!

[rabifaf]

They were almost certainly fighting over hens. Changes in flock dynamics can cause tension and fighting.

Was the person you got them from lying? Not necessarily, they indeed might gave historically gotten along but that changed when they got introduced to their new flock. In any case, how they were together at their old home is irrelevant. They are fighting now. Whether they will continue to fight in the future remains to be seen but it's a very real possibility they will and the only real solution in that case is permanent separation. That can be splitting the flock, having one in a separate pen, rehoming or eating one of them. Doesn't matter what you choose, if they continue to fight they just need to be separated permanently.

If they appear to get along, still be cautious as this may or may not happen again. I would think long and hard about why you want 2 roosters and consider if you have a way to separate them in an emergency. Click here for tips on safe separation. That needs to be in place long before anything else happens.

thank you so much for your suggestion

 

[Mrs. K]

My set up is just a standard coop, & run. I do free range, but not currently. I don't have current pictures right now.

Do you have all of the roosters in one coop, or separated from the hen and pullets? I am very surprised with the Malay roosters. Those are a game bird, right?

28 birds is pretty large for a back yard flock. Do you have crowing contests with that many roosters? Close neighbors? I will admit I would not expect your set up to work at all, and would love pictures.

Mrs K

 

[MysteryChicken]

Do you have all of the roosters in one coop, or separated from the hen and pullets? I am very surprised with the Malay roosters. Those are a game bird, right?

28 birds is pretty large for a back yard flock. Do you have crowing contests with that many roosters? Close neighbors? I will admit I would not expect your set up to work at all, and would love pictures.

Mrs K

All are together.
I've got Purebred Old Bloodline Indian Malays which are Old World Gamefowl. They're typically fine raised together, just don't want to separate them, otherwise they'll become strangers, & fight possibly to the death.

Crowing wars happen each morning.

I've got a second coop with more roosters, & hens, so yes they got neighbors. As well as my Aunt's Chickens as neighbors.