Suggestions

[Jaime Bates]

Hi all, I am new to posting on here. In March I purchased four, 4 day old Amber Link “hens” from tractor supply. I am A vegetarian and wanted hens for my own eggs, but I ended up with two hens and two roosters. This is my first experience raising chickens and I am starting to get overwhelmed. Two weeks ago my roasters loved each other and cuddled up together in the sun. This week my one rooster is attacking the other one as I’ve been told repeatedly would happen and The one rooster (that i seam To favor) runs to me almost like he is asking for help. I dont know What to do. I have One coop/run we just finished building and a make shift run we built with my trampoline until the other was complete. As of now i have them separated. The aggressive roo is back in my basement at the moment, the trampoline is not water proof and it never seams to stop raining here. Any one have suggestions on how to make this situation work without something getting seriously hurt or worse? I would Appreciate any ideas. Thank you Jaime Bates.

 

[TheTwoRoos]

Maybe try getting more hens,you don’t want two hens with two males or even a single male.You could always split your flock,let one rooster own part of the flock and own the rest.

This doesn’t necessarily happen in every case.Males require a certain amount of hens and space,sounds like your not providing that well,do you freerange,how much space do you have?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

You can look into rooster tie out stations, maybe.

Boys spar but they can sometimes live together. Right now with hormones kicking in they are raging idiots and boys will be boys. Challenging each other. One must submit and avoid the other. Separating them where they can't see each other will make any integration back together MUCH harder.

Multiple feeders and lots of visual barriers help.

No matter how much people say roosters won't fight if there are no females present, is complete hogwash. They are living animals who have to tolerate each other and we don't always like those we are raised in the same home with, blood or not. Disagreements happen. It happens over food, space, attitude, and so much more.

I have not yet seen anyone get seriously hurt... when raised together. Bloody yes, black swollen eyes yes... serious injury fight to the death NO. Not YET.

One tactic I use would be... the best defense is a good offense. I use a pvc pipe cuz it's lightweight, long reach and flexible... I put the chase to the chaser! Let him get a taste of his own medicine just long enough to chill him out and refocus his attention. Not enough to make myself become part of the pecking order. He may SEEM like the aggressor now, but really the other boys hormones might just be kicking in a little later. But we all have individual brains with different confidence levels.

Another strategy... a look but don't touch time out for the aggressor.
Like inside a dog kennel.

You could rehome one, the other, or I would do both... nobody need those antics. You could make them for good home only if it's important to you. Or if you understand that vegetarian is a personal choice and not judging other for eating meat... might let them go where they will feed someones' family with a humane dispatch knowing that those boys had a whole lot of good days and one bad moment. I have seen some people post please don't tell them if they will be consumed. I do eat meat... having to take the life of an animal was a wake up call that drastically changed our consumption practice. I completely understand how it can be appalling to some though.

I have seen many boys find happily ever after homes... noting that we ALL will die some day, just some of us slower than others.

Amberlinks seem like good birds on paper though I have never raised them.

Good luck finding a solution that works for YOU!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

It would probably be best to re-home one or both of them. 2 pullets really isn't enough for 1 cockerel let alone 2. If you have enough space you could try getting at least a few more pullets and try keeping one of them.