Penrod and Darrel were brooder mates, and now they're seven months old. Penrod is a Buff Brahma and has decided he's alpha over Darrel who's a Black Cochin and a bit smaller and lighter-weight.
Darrel has been fine with his status all along, but now that's not enough for Penrod. For the last two nights, Penrod has ambushed Darrel in the coop at roosting time, attempting to tear him limb from limb. I mean - the feathers fly, and if not for my intervention, there could have been injuries to Darrel.
During the day, they mostly get along fine, except for Penrod decking Darrel periodically out of principle. The boys' pen is adjacent to the hens', but both sexes don't mingle or free-range together, since I've had it with hens with bald backs. (These boys are still virgins.)
Is Penrod gearing up to lay complete waste to Darrel, even though Darrel has never fought back and shows no interest in challenging Penrod? Or, dare I hope, will things settle back down in a day or two?
The two reside in their own coop separate from the hens. I designed the coop to be partitioned down the middle and half will be for future broodies to raise their chicks. So I could put the partition up now so the boys can be separated at night, but I hesitate to do this since they might get used to the arrangement, then it would spoil things for the future boodies.
Any ideas or benefits of sage experience out there? This is my first experience having two roosters at the same time.
Darrel has been fine with his status all along, but now that's not enough for Penrod. For the last two nights, Penrod has ambushed Darrel in the coop at roosting time, attempting to tear him limb from limb. I mean - the feathers fly, and if not for my intervention, there could have been injuries to Darrel.
During the day, they mostly get along fine, except for Penrod decking Darrel periodically out of principle. The boys' pen is adjacent to the hens', but both sexes don't mingle or free-range together, since I've had it with hens with bald backs. (These boys are still virgins.)
Is Penrod gearing up to lay complete waste to Darrel, even though Darrel has never fought back and shows no interest in challenging Penrod? Or, dare I hope, will things settle back down in a day or two?
The two reside in their own coop separate from the hens. I designed the coop to be partitioned down the middle and half will be for future broodies to raise their chicks. So I could put the partition up now so the boys can be separated at night, but I hesitate to do this since they might get used to the arrangement, then it would spoil things for the future boodies.
Any ideas or benefits of sage experience out there? This is my first experience having two roosters at the same time.
