Two free-ranging roosters, one coop - possible?

[Ravie]

Yeah. My current roosters and chickens accept newcomers easily. I used to keep the little birds in a separate smaller coop and then I realized I didn't have to. I introduce new fowl all the time and there has never been any fights or issues. I suspect I can introduce a new rooster as they do have many, many acres to roam about on and there is plenty of food and water available too.

I think I will try to re-home the Australorp though. There are too nice roosters out there!

 

[Hoosierchickens]

I have two roosters cooped together with 10 hens and they get along just fine. That being said, they are only 4 months old and were raised together. YMMV. I think a little has to do with the breed too but the temperament of the rooster can vary no matter what breed. I think the best solution would be to get rid of troublesome roos and keep the good ones when they come along.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
I will mostly agree with this! I added about 35 pullets and one rooster to 18 layers and 1 rooster. They did fine for a while but the older rooster started to mess with the younger one when he matured and started mating his girls. He picked on him all the time. They did okay till the youngest one turned a year old and then all he77 broke loose. Went to let them out one morning and they were completly bloody and would not stop fighting. Husband took care of both of them then & there. Now on the other hand I've raised a bunch of sets of roosters together and have never had a problem with them fighting. I'd give it a try but don't be disappointed if it doesn't work!!

 

[spiritdance]

I think it has a lot to do with how much room they have. I have introduced new roos with no problem, but I have plenty of space (and plenty of hens, so no squabbling there). The most I've ever had is a slightly torn comb once, but that came from the dominant roo breaking up a (sort of) fight between two junior roos. He doesn't tolerate any nonsense around the ladies! On the other hand, my neighbor had trouble trying to integrate a second roo, but his coop (IMHO) is too small, so they couldn't establish their own space. No mature roo is going to tolerate another roo in his "personal" space.

I know "conventional wisdom" is 4 sq ft in the coop and 10 sp ft in the run, but I have more like 10 sq ft in the coop and 50+ sq ft in the primary run, plus they free range during the day ... plenty of room for the roos to avoid each other and keep "their" hens in separate little flocks.