To many roosters, bachelor pen.

[centrarchid]

I have half dozen Dominique cockerels about 6 months old that housed most of time in a 10 x 10 dog kennel. They are released most workdays to forage yard near house. Weekends they are out most of day. Hen groups are managed in a similar manner around the barn. Areas they forage have a 150 foot gap between them. Groups staying separate very well despite their having complimentary gender imbalances.

It takes a lot of space and vegetation for approach to work.

 

[Lidiapac730]

I have half dozen Dominique cockerels about 6 months old that housed most of time in a 10 x 10 dog kennel. They are released most workdays to forage yard near house. Weekends they are out most of day. Hen groups are managed in a similar manner around the barn. Areas they forage have a 150 foot gap between them. Groups staying separate very well despite their having complimentary gender imbalances.
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It takes a lot of space and vegetation for approach to work.

That look wonderful, I could let my chicks free range around the back yard, but we have too many hawks, eagles, foxes, racoons and cayotes. It might not work all the time.

 

[centrarchid]

I have all the predators you have. Fencing and good team of dogs plus me keep baddies at bay.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Has anybody had any success in keeping +10 rooster together without serious fights for a long period of time (years)?

Unfortunately, due to lack of space, my rooster flock only has five roosters in it. I believe @HuskerHens18 has a larger rooster flock?

Which cockerel you keep with the pullets is entirely up to you. Personally, I would see how all the roosters work out together, and if any didn't seem to be doing well you could just stick that one with your pullets. If they all get along pretty well, I would put the cockerel that seemed to be the gentlest (no rough mating, chasing, etc.) with your pullets.

Just wondering, but have you seen my article? It has a lot of information I have gathered about rooster flocks and many others have found it helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-flocks.72998/

 

[Lidiapac730]

Unfortunately, due to lack of space, my rooster flock only has five roosters in it. I believe @HuskerHens18 has a larger rooster flock?

Which cockerel you keep with the pullets is entirely up to you. Personally, I would see how all the roosters work out together, and if any didn't seem to be doing well you could just stick that one with your pullets. If they all get along pretty well, I would put the cockerel that seemed to be the gentlest (no rough mating, chasing, etc.) with your pullets.

Just wondering, but have you seen my article? It has a lot of information I have gathered about rooster flocks and many others have found it helpful: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-flocks.72998/

Yes, I have read your article, and I found it very helpful. I love my roosters and I feel like roosters are often killed just for being boys, not fair. I really want to make it work. They deserve good life just as much as my hens do. I keep my chickens as pets, just to have them and love them, I don't eat them nor their eggs, so I value the life of my hens just as much as I value the life of my boys. I want stress free life for them. For how long have you had your roosters? how old are they? any killing happened?

 

[centrarchid]

I keep multiple roosters together for years on end. Many more kept separated at all times. Breed important but you can do a lot to reduce aggression with most breeds, especially when more than a couple rooster are involved.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Yes, I have read your article, and I found it very helpful. I love my roosters and I feel like roosters are often killed just for being boys, not fair. I really want to make it work. They deserve good life just as much as my hens do. I keep my chickens as pets, just to have them and love them, I don't eat them nor their eggs, so I value the life of my hens just as much as I value the life of my boys. I want stress free life for them. For how long have you had your roosters? how old are they? any killing happened?

Some of my roos are relatively new, but I've had a few for more than 2 years. The ones in my rooster flock are 2 years old, 1 year old, and 6-9 months old (not sure on those ones since one was found abandoned in a parking lot and I forgot to ask the other one's age). None of my roosters have killed each other, it's actually really easy to prevent as long as you observe your roosters and have enough space for them. The only person I know who had a rooster kill another kept five roosters and a hen in a too small pen.

 

[Lidiapac730]

Some of my roos are relatively new, but I've had a few for more than 2 years. The ones in my rooster flock are 2 years old, 1 year old, and 6-9 months old (not sure on those ones since one was found abandoned in a parking lot and I forgot to ask the other one's age). None of my roosters have killed each other, it's actually really easy to prevent as long as you observe your roosters and have enough space for them. The only person I know who had a rooster kill another kept five roosters and a hen in a too small pen.

I posted some photos of my set up, did you get a chance to look? do you thing it would be enough?

 

[Lidiapac730]

Some of my roos are relatively new, but I've had a few for more than 2 years. The ones in my rooster flock are 2 years old, 1 year old, and 6-9 months old (not sure on those ones since one was found abandoned in a parking lot and I forgot to ask the other one's age). None of my roosters have killed each other, it's actually really easy to prevent as long as you observe your roosters and have enough space for them. The only person I know who had a rooster kill another kept five roosters and a hen in a too small pen.

and adding new rooster is doable? At some point I hope I will be able to rescue roosters, but that far down the road.

I keep multiple roosters together for years on end. Many more kept separated at all times. Breed important but you can do a lot to reduce aggression with most breeds, especially when more than a couple rooster are involved.

My roosters are bantams, cochins and easter egger being the most dominant, but the easter roo is with no doubt #1. He keeps an eye on everyone, both hens and roos, he lets everyone eat and he keeps guard and in the evening he makes sure everyone gets back into the enclosure at decent time. I know he means well. I appreciate his effort, but I don't appreciate his technique. He gets a bit rough. When will their true colors show? they are now 4 month? How much time do I have to build the second run? A month?

 

[Lidiapac730]

I keep multiple roosters together for years on end. Many more kept separated at all times. Breed important but you can do a lot to reduce aggression with most breeds, especially when more than a couple rooster are involved.

how do I reduce aggression?