Roosters

[rgirls]

Can roosters live together? I 8 hens and a wonderful roosters. I have a new hen and roosters that were hatched this summer now totalling 9 hens and two roosters. Can my two roosters stay together?

 

[Debbie292d]

Yes, two or more roosters can live together. But, it depends on your flock and the roosters. Many of us have multiple roosters, and other than a spat now and then, they get along for the most part.

As they grow, if one or both get too aggressive, you can try separating them for a month or two as their hormones arrive around 6-8 months and then they can be tyrants, but after that, they can wind up very docile.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Can my two roosters stay together?

You can try. You are dealing with living animals, anything can happen. Sometimes they fight to the death. Sometimes they work out an accommodation where they work together to take care of the flock. Especially if you have enough room they will divide the flock so each has some hens and they avoid each other.

Good luck!

 

[NanaK]

It can work but depends on the roosters and the amount of space they have.

Most suggest having at least 8-10 hens per rooster. This is to prevent over mating of the hens. Over mated hens can end up with featherless backs or injured.

 

[SamLockwood]

Can roosters live together? I 8 hens and a wonderful roosters. I have a new hen and roosters that were hatched this summer now totalling 9 hens and two roosters. Can my two roosters stay together?

It's possible, depending on the personalities of the roosters and how much space you have. The "sorting out" phase can get messy, depending on how stubborn one or both of your boys are.

 

[Mrs. K]

It can, but a lot of times it doesn’t. Are you thinkimg with your hens? Or a bachelor flock.

 

[Wild Iris]

Yes, two or more roosters can live together. But, it depends on your flock and the roosters. Many of us have multiple roosters, and other than a spat now and then, they get along for the most part.

As they grow, if one or both get too aggressive, you can try separating them for a month or two as their hormones arrive around 6-8 months and then they can be tyrants, but after that, they can wind up very docile.

This is an old thread, but I hope you see this. I have 3 brother roosters (9 months old, half game), none of them are the Alpha. Recently two brothers got into a fight, one was killed, and the other ran off. The Alpha and the third brother suffered mild injuries in the fray, but nothing bad. The one who ran off came back this morning in very bad shape.

Are you suggesting that the injured fighter *might* settle down in a few months and it might be possible to re-integrate him? Right now I have him separated in a crate. I could make accommodations for him for a few months, if that sometimes works, but I don't think I could keep him permanently separated. I free-range my flock and he was actually doing a lot of good work in the flock, before all this happened.

Does your experience speak to this kind of situation?

 

[Debbie292d]

This is an old thread, but I hope you see this. I have 3 brother roosters (9 months old, half game), none of them are the Alpha. Recently two brothers got into a fight, one was killed, and the other ran off. The Alpha and the third brother suffered mild injuries in the fray, but nothing bad. The one who ran off came back this morning in very bad shape.

Are you suggesting that the injured fighter *might* settle down in a few months and it might be possible to re-integrate him? Right now I have him separated in a crate. I could make accommodations for him for a few months, if that sometimes works, but I don't think I could keep him permanently separated. I free-range my flock and he was actually doing a lot of good work in the flock, before all this happened.

Does your experience speak to this kind of situation?

I know nothing of game birds. For domesticated roosters, yes, it can take weeks or months, but in most cases, they do settle down. We only raise silkies, and they develop slower, so it takes sometimes until they are a year old to see them mature into a good roosters. I have culled a couple that didn't, but most do.

 

[Wild Iris]

I know nothing of game birds. For domesticated roosters, yes, it can take weeks or months, but in most cases, they do settle down. We only raise silkies, and they develop slower, so it takes sometimes until they are a year old to see them mature into a good roosters. I have culled a couple that didn't, but most do.

Thank you--this is helpful!