Second Rooster

[Aunt Flo]

A friend of mine had too many roosters and I offered to take one. He is very beautiful and not human-aggressive at all. I have a rooster already who is the same way. A few weeks ago we had to put down an aggressive rooster, so I am very excited to have two nice roosters. The problem is, every time I take the new rooster out of the chicken tractor, they start fighting and I get scared that they will get really hurt. Should I just let them duke it out? They are the same size and seem to be around the same age. The new rooster has been in the tractor for a few days and I really want to let him out. The hens and rooster walk around him all day. I am also wondering if it is a good idea to put him in the coop at night in a pet carrier. I have close to 30 hens and they are free ranging.

 

[bobbi-j]

The two roosters will duke it out to determine who is the "top roo". That's chicken nature. You can let them be and work it out, but I would separate them if serious damage is being done to one or the other. If blood is drawn, you can put Blue Kote on the wound to keep the others from pecking at it, or separate until healed. Even once things appear to be settled, there will be squabbles every now and then when the subordinate rooster decides to try to establish dominance. At least that's what happened here when I had more than one rooster. Until they are allowed to work things out, they will continue to fight every time you put them together. On occasion, they may fight to the death. This will not happen every time. As Ridgerunner says, you are dealing with live animals, and there is no guarantee how they will act.

 

[donrae]

The two roosters will duke it out to determine who is the "top roo". That's chicken nature. You can let them be and work it out, but I would separate them if serious damage is being done to one or the other. If blood is drawn, you can put Blue Kote on the wound to keep the others from pecking at it, or separate until healed. Even once things appear to be settled, there will be squabbles every now and then when the subordinate rooster decides to try to establish dominance. At least that's what happened here when I had more than one rooster. Until they are allowed to work things out, they will continue to fight every time you put them together. On occasion, they may fight to the death. This will not happen every time. As Ridgerunner says, you are dealing with live animals, and there is no guarantee how they will act.

That's what I would have said