Two Cockerels!

[BethMatt]

We have two cockerels, one barred rock, & one mille fleur d'uccle (bantam) they get along very well now & my husband is wanting to keep them both, I was wondering, when they begin to mature, will they still get along, or will we have a mess on our hands with the fighting, possibly killing one another?

 

[donrae]

This is one of those things that's impossible to predict, sorry. Animals are individuals and you can't say what is going to happen. You'll have folks respond with stories of roosters raised together and living in perfect harmony all their lives, and just as many stories involving fights to the death as the hormones flow. I'd advise to try keeping them together, but have a contingency plan for one of the birds in case things head south.

How much space and how many hens do you have? You'll need to keep in mind how your pullets will fare with two males. Adolescent chicken lovin' isn't always pretty to watch.....

 

[BethMatt]

This is one of those things that's impossible to predict, sorry. Animals are individuals and you can't say what is going to happen. You'll have folks respond with stories of roosters raised together and living in perfect harmony all their lives, and just as many stories involving fights to the death as the hormones flow. I'd advise to try keeping them together, but have a contingency plan for one of the birds in case things head south.

How much space and how many hens do you have? You'll need to keep in mind how your pullets will fare with two males. Adolescent chicken lovin' isn't always pretty to watch.....

We have only 4 hens, a 6 x 8 coop & a huge yard for them to forage...I'm fearful that the hens will be overrun when the rooster's mature, I'm reading, & finding out the the ratio between the number of roo's & hens we'll have is not desireable Looks like one roo will need to go, now to pick one! I read that the Barred rock is the most desireable rooster to have, & that the mille fleur d'uccle is almost always too aggresive, but he is so sweet & calm right now, outnumbered by far being the only bantam in the flock.

 

[donrae]

Oh yeah, with only 4 girls you're going to have to make some management decisions. The little guy might be the easier bird to regime, just something to keep in mind.