Roosters Fighting - Should I Do Something Now or Wait?

[Yardmom]

Cockerals and roosters all have their own personalities, so no one can say exactly how it will go. When I have observed males establishing dominance they fight on and off for a few weeks. Then there is a time when the "winner" doesn't allow the "loser" to be near him or his flock. Then after a few weeks the dominant male allows the other male to come back. (After he is secure in his place?) I have had some pair together, and others who have just had their own group of hens.

 

[SeaSea47]

Cockerals and roosters all have their own personalities, so no one can say exactly how it will go. When I have observed males establishing dominance they fight on and off for a few weeks. Then there is a time when the "winner" doesn't allow the "loser" to be near him or his flock. Then after a few weeks the dominant male allows the other male to come back. (After he is secure in his place?) I have had some pair together, and others who have just had their own group of hens.

Thanks for the info. They almost got into it again tonight after the Cochin got brave and decided to try to mate with one of the ladies. He ran away though when the Hamburg went after him. I'll just keep an eye on them for now. I just hate to see the Cochin so timid.

 

[McChooky]

Thanks for the info. They almost got into it again tonight after the Cochin got brave and decided to try to mate with one of the ladies. He ran away though when the Hamburg went after him. I'll just keep an eye on them for now. I just hate to see the Cochin so timid.

A Cochin Bantam rooster fought my standard rooster everyday for 2 years .The owner finally got tired of the standard getting his butt whipped and gave him to me. Some roosters never quit fighting. Depends on whether the Alpha rooster is willing to share any hens.Their Cochin wasn't...

 

[bobbi-j]

I would strongly suggest you have a Plan B in place in case it gets ugly. Things can change very quickly when you have two maturing cockerels. Have a way to separate them ASAP if needed.

 

[SeaSea47]

Let them battle it out. They will eventually learn to get along after sorting out the pecking order. Those are both relatively docile breeds.

Thanks. That's what I was hoping to hear. This is my first go-round with boys, so I am just trying not to screw it up.

 

[SeaSea47]

If they aren't injuring each other, I'd give them some time to sort things out. If it escalates though, be prepared to pick one. They're still young and what is currently mild can very well turn into more down the road. Best case they sort things out now and it lasts. You never can tell though. They have a long way to go before they're even mature and there are still no guarantees even then.

So far, no injuries, but I'm just worried about my big guy laying down afterward and being scared to go into the coop. But even though he's my biggest chicken, he's always been very submissive to the others. His best buddy is a little misfit Polish hen I have who has some neurological issues.

 

[SeaSea47]

Okay, so the fighting has calmed…the Hamburg still chases the Cochin if he gets near the girls, but the Cochin runs away instead of fighting back. But the Cochin stays by himself as much as possible. They free range half the day and he goes and hangs out by my duck pen instead of going all over the yard with the flock. I have a little hen with some issues who kind of marches to the beat of her own drummer and she’ll follow him around but that’s his only companionship. He hangs out in the coop most of the day when they’re not free ranging and barely comes out into the run. I feel bad for him because he’s so sweet. Any chance they’ll get past this? I’ve thought about separating the Hamburg where he can see them all but not touch anyone, but that seems cruel too.

 

[SeaSea47]

I actually had a polish bantam that took over control from an Easter egger. It was hilarious. The Easter egger couldn't manage to spur the tiny little bantam, got frustrated and ran off with the pint sized little winner in hot pursuit
Edit: This is the victor in all his glory

That's hilarious! It's like my little Hamburg ruling the flock, and aside from my one little Polish who has some neurological issues, he's the tiniest of them all.

 

[SeaSea47]

A Cochin Bantam rooster fought my standard rooster everyday for 2 years .The owner finally got tired of the standard getting his butt whipped and gave him to me. Some roosters never quit fighting. Depends on whether the Alpha rooster is willing to share any hens.Their Cochin wasn't...

They're not so much fighting now - just knocking and chasing each other away from the girls. I may leave them alone (unless it gets serious again) and see what happens as the girls mature a little bit. I only have a few girls who are willing to mate with either of them, so as more become more willing, I'm hoping they won't fight over the same few.