Split my flock incorrectly...can it easily be changed 1 month later?

[Lesler5]

Hello. I am a new chicken owner who bought 8 straight run day old chicks in May. Last month it was obvious that I had 2 roos, one large barred rock and a small RIR, the runt in the pack. I split the roosters from the other 6 who I thought were hens. I do have 2 coops, 2 runs. But now it appears that my other 2 barred rocks may be roos too. Their waddles are growing, and they are starting to crow, plus both pick on the Australorp hen. Is it too late after a month to put these newly discovered roos back with the other boys? And maybe put the RIR little roo in with the girls? He is very intimidated by the much larger barred rock roomie? Any suggestions are welcome. They are like pets, so I really don't like the idea of getting rid of them. Thanks!

 

[chicmom]

I think that's a great idea, and I would just go ahead and do it. There will be some "pecking order activity", but it will settle down in a few days. It's just natural.

Sharon

 

[elmo]

Um, whoa. Pecking order is one thing, but putting a bunch of adolescent roos together is another. It's somewhat breed dependent, but usually if you put roos that haven't grown up with each other together, you get fighting. Sometimes even roos who have grown up together will fight.

They say that chickens recognize each other for about two weeks after they've been separated. After two weeks, supposedly they don't recognize each other anymore and treat the reintroduced chicken like a stranger. I'm not so sure about the two weeks, because I've reintroduced a broody hen after a month and the flock seemed to recognize her. In any event, because of the gender of the chickens in your case, you'll need to watch out for serious fighting, very carefully.

 

[sourland]

They will probably fight, but it would be far worse to leave two large roosters in with three pullets. Two young roosters gang breeding hens is a recipe for injury and possible death.