Subordinate cockerel

[Brabra]

This is my first time with chickens, I have 9 raised together 16 weeks 2 are cockerels. The dominate rooster is starting to mate with the pullets, they don’t love it….but what’s weird is the subordinate cockerel likes to watch and today even helped hold the pullet still….is this normal?

 

[fluffycrow]

It probably wasn't the lower-ranking cockerel helping to keep the pullet down, but the lower-ranking cockerel wanting to mount her as well, or him trying to establish dominance over the pullet, or both

 

[Brabra]

It probably wasn't the lower-ranking cockerel helping to keep the pullet down, but the lower-ranking cockerel wanting to mount her as well, or him trying to establish dominance over the pullet, or both

That makes more sense then what I thought was going on

 

[Mrs. K]

You might consider pulling both cockerels out of the pen for a while, or better yet, forever. They tend to mature faster than the pullets, making them bigger, and they can bully the pullets. Two of them on 7 pullets is apt to be pretty hard on the pullets. Pay attention to your pullets - if they start hiding you really need to remove the males.

People often have some misconceptions about birds:

• being raised together makes for life long friend - in chickens it has almost no effect
• letting the birds out for a bit of time will make up for over crowding - no they are not like a dog you can take for a walk. Over crowding causes ugly habits.
• roosters raised together will get along and be nice. Often times they won't.
• todays cockerel's behavior is no indication on his behavior tomorrow.

I would not keep a rooster with less that 7 hens in a full size coop, and I would not keep 2 roosters with less than 25 hens. It can work, but most often it does not work, and the hens pay for it. The more roosters you keep, the greater the chance of it going wrong.

If this is your first year with chickens or if you have small children, I would re-home both roosters. They tend to attack children first. Often times inexperienced people do not recognize the aggression until the darling turns into the nightmare. At the ages of your cockerels, you are leaving the darling stage - headed into harder birds to manage in a small coop.

Mrs K

 

[Brabra]

You might consider pulling both cockerels out of the pen for a while, or better yet, forever. They tend to mature faster than the pullets, making them bigger, and they can bully the pullets. Two of them on 7 pullets is apt to be pretty hard on the pullets. Pay attention to your pullets - if they start hiding you really need to remove the males.

People often have some misconceptions about birds:

• being raised together makes for life long friend - in chickens it has almost no effect
• letting the birds out for a bit of time will make up for over crowding - no they are not like a dog you can take for a walk. Over crowding causes ugly habits.
• roosters raised together will get along and be nice. Often times they won't.
• todays cockerel's behavior is no indication on his behavior tomorrow.

I would not keep a rooster with less that 7 hens in a full size coop, and I would not keep 2 roosters with less than 25 hens. It can work, but most often it does not work, and the hens pay for it. The more roosters you keep, the greater the chance of it going wrong.

If this is your first year with chickens or if you have small children, I would re-home both roosters. They tend to attack children first. Often times inexperienced people do not recognize the aggression until the darling turns into the nightmare. At the ages of your cockerels, you are leaving the darling stage - headed into harder birds to manage in a small coop.

Mrs K

Thank you. That us really good to know that they mature faster and can bully. U was wondering about that. I am currently making a chicken tractor and hope to be done in a few days to pull the guys out. I was only on pulling out one but with your advice ill pull out both. Thank you. I intend to get more pullets soon. So I will keep the guys away until the new pullets are grown also.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is a common response when a newbie has multiple roosters to think, well I will get more hens and be able to keep both of the cockerels. Problem solved. But it really doesn't work quite like that. You certainly can try it...

What size coop do you have? Because what seems like a lot of space when they are still young, often becomes not enough space when full size. Measure it. Space - or lack of space is the number one cause of bullying and feather plucking. Birds can be killed if it gets out of hand, and it can be a hard habit to get rid of. It causes a lot of strife and tension in the flock.

Roosters need more space than hens, in my opinion. Multiple roosters need even more space. There needs to be a lot of clutter in the run. Places where birds can get away from each other.

And roosters do not get the idea of sharing, each rooster getting half of the hens. Each rooster will want all of the hens. In fact, they may fight over them. Some fight once, and it is sorted. Some fight, rest, and fight again. Some will fight to the death.

When you have chickens, even as pets - they are still chickens and you need to practice animal husbandry. Which solves problems for the flock, verses the individual. Often times multiple roosters are going to be a problem for the flock.

Some people feel that as they raised these birds as chicks, they obligated to keep them, you are not. Always solve for peace in the flock. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people. Strongly consider removing or re-homing at least one of the roosters - and maybe even both. Get some experience with hens - roosters take some experience, and even then, not all roosters turn out.

Mrs K

 

[Brabra]

It is a common response when a newbie has multiple roosters to think, well I will get more hens and be able to keep both of the cockerels. Problem solved. But it really doesn't work quite like that. You certainly can try it...

What size coop do you have? Because what seems like a lot of space when they are still young, often becomes not enough space when full size. Measure it. Space - or lack of space is the number one cause of bullying and feather plucking. Birds can be killed if it gets out of hand, and it can be a hard habit to get rid of. It causes a lot of strife and tension in the flock.

Roosters need more space than hens, in my opinion. Multiple roosters need even more space. There needs to be a lot of clutter in the run. Places where birds can get away from each other.

And roosters do not get the idea of sharing, each rooster getting half of the hens. Each rooster will want all of the hens. In fact, they may fight over them. Some fight once, and it is sorted. Some fight, rest, and fight again. Some will fight to the death.

When you have chickens, even as pets - they are still chickens and you need to practice animal husbandry. Which solves problems for the flock, verses the individual. Often times multiple roosters are going to be a problem for the flock.

Some people feel that as they raised these birds as chicks, they obligated to keep them, you are not. Always solve for peace in the flock. Roosters have ruined the whole chicken experience for a lot of people. Strongly consider removing or re-homing at least one of the roosters - and maybe even both. Get some experience with hens - roosters take some experience, and even then, not all roosters turn out.

Mrs K

Thank you for your experience. I am building 2 mini chickshaws which hold 12-16 and and going to put them both in a 164' electric poultry net and divide them into 2 flocks of 10 each not including rooster(I have barred rock and rir) and want to breed them separately. I wasn't sure how to split the electric fence area in 2 so I thought I might just make a chicken wire circle within the full space. But for right now I am making a chicken tractor for the 2 boys until I get it all sorted out. I am not against culling the 2 boys if it doesn't work out. Their current housing is only big enough for 7 full grown which is why I am making a tractor big enough for 4 that I can put 2 boys in. I'm using the measurement of 15 square ft per bird 12" each on the roost. Thank you again for your advice

 

[Mrs. K]

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

 

[Brabra]

Sounds like a reasonable plan.

Short of not having rooster my first go around I'm sure your right but I'll have to be flogged by one to learn my lesson I believe. But I will protect from bullying and fighting. Thank you for teaching me that mating with a Puckett before she submits is not acceptable cockerel behavior

 

[Mrs. K]

Well being flogged is no fun, do wear pants to the coop. They will help some.