Roosters

[Cadence A Waller]

I have 1 rooster, 3 cockerels, and 16 hens. I was wondering if there was a way to keep all the rooster and cockerels. I know I don’t want to keep all of them with my hens. Is there some other way to keep them? The cockerels are currently to young to bother my rooster but I know that they will start bothering him soon. And I don’t want them bothering the hens either.

 

[DobieLover]

I have 1 rooster, 3 cockerels, and 16 hens. I was wondering if there was a way to keep all the rooster and cockerels. I know I don’t want to keep all of them with my hens. Is there some other way to keep them? The cockerels are currently to young to bother my rooster but I know that they will start bothering him soon. And I don’t want them bothering the hens either.

Create a bachelor pad coop and run away from the main flock.
16 hens is enough for 2 or more boys. Especially if the hens and the current rooster knock the young boys around a bit and learn them some manners.
You would want a spacious coop for peaceful co-habitation.

 

[Cadence A Waller]

Thanks for the advice! Right now the cockerels are with the rooster and hens so maybe they will be ok together long term. I will just have to watch and see.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

If you need some more info about rooster-only flocks, this article might help: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-flocks.72998/.

 

[Mrs. K]

They might get along, there is always wishing, but I don't think so. I would not expect this to work for the long term. Maybe one cockerel, but not three. A bachelor set up is a pretty realistic solution, or the soup pot, but not them all living together in harmony with your flock.

I recommend you have a plan B, ready to go, cause when it goes to fighting, it can go south in a hurry. Some times people without a lot of experience, don't recognize the signs that they are not getting along until they fight. Most people that have not witnessed a rooster fight, vastly underestimate the violence.

I would keep a fish net, so as to be able to pull them apart, and at the very least, have a dog kennel to immediately separate them.

3 cockerels will start bothering your HENS, and that can cause problems with your rooster.

Mrs K

 

[Cadence A Waller]

They might get along, there is always wishing, but I don't think so. I would not expect this to work for the long term. Maybe one cockerel, but not three. A bachelor set up is a pretty realistic solution, or the soup pot, but not them all living together in harmony with your flock.

I recommend you have a plan B, ready to go, cause when it goes to fighting, it can go south in a hurry. Some times people without a lot of experience, don't recognize the signs that they are not getting along until they fight. Most people that have not witnessed a rooster fight, vastly underestimate the violence.

I would keep a fish net, so as to be able to pull them apart, and at the very least, have a dog kennel to immediately separate them.

3 cockerels will start bothering your HENS, and that can cause problems with your rooster.

Mrs K

Sounds good. I definitely don’t want them bothering my hens. If them being together goes south I will quickly separate them. I am hoping to keep the rooster and one cockerel with my hens.