Two peacefully coexistant roosters turn violent! Why??

[frommother]

We have a small flock of mixed breed, free range chickens. There are about 12 hens and 2 roosters that have the freedom to roam over 4 acres. The roosters have lived together for 2 years without any problems. Sometimes all the hens and both roosters roam together, and sometimes they each have a group of hens and roam separately. Today, however, everything changed. When we looked outside, the two roosters were fighting very aggressively. We watched for a while, and it carried on, escalating. After what felt like had been too long, we went to check on them and could see blood all over both of their faces and were sure they were going to fight to the death. One rooster is the father of the other rooster, and he has always been at the top of the pecking order and baby rooster has always fallen in line. My guess is that, today, baby rooster decided to change the order and was not going to give up. Daddy rooster was running away from him from time to time, then turning to fight, but it was clear baby rooster was going to be the victor if we let it continue. Daddy rooster is the better rooster. He is more attentive to the hens, watches over them while they eat, and is always on guard. Baby rooster is more selfish, and doesn't really pay attention to his surroundings the same. We separated baby rooster from the others, cleaned them both up, then let daddy rooster go back to business, although he was very dazed. My question is why? Why after 2 years of peaceful coexistence, did things turn so bloody for them?

 

[PrairieChickens]

Junior probably just "came of age" and decided he was ready to be in charge. Since Papa was clearly trying to put an end to it, Junior was obviously the instigator. We just went through the same thing with our year-old roosters suddenly deciding to drive off the two-year-old alpha roo. Mars, the Senior Roo, now lives in a private coop and run with a harem of lovely ladies, while most of the young lads have been confined to a bachelor run. It's just nature--the young, fresh blood driving off the older, ailing male--but fortunately for your Papa roo, he doesn't live in a wild or feral flock and he's got you to back him up.

 

[austinbndr28]

Your younger rooster was trying to become the dominant male. I have that happen and i usually put the losing rooster or rooster i don't want up for sale or seperate them in different pens.