What are the chances that my three baby roosters can live in the flock (semi) peacefully after they've matured? I intend that at least two of them will be replacements when my adult roos are *ut-hum* retired. It may be a year or so before I can afford a nice bachelor pad for them. The birds have many acres to free range on. Can the boys peacefully exist, even if they do have to live on the edges of the flocks? (I'm still not 100% convinced that 2 of them are indeed roos judging by their feathering, but I want to be prepared)
Yes - is my simple answer - if the boys want to. My main flock has 3 roosters right now - Versace (Splash Orpington), Adam (Versace's son also Splash Orpington) and Woodstock (Bantam RIR rooster). While there are some small squabbles - mainly when Adam is breeding and Versace chases him off - we have no square off, I am going to kill you fights. Versace was not raised with Woodstock - both were about a year when Versace came to live with me. NOW I do have the fight till death or drop problem between Versace and my pet roo Marilyn (he lives in the front horse pasture). Mar-mare and Versace will fence fight daily and should Mar-mare get out, then I am running to scoop Mar up and put him back. Versace also hates my Ameraucana Flrpl and will fight with Flrpl when Flrpl jumps the fence. Again it is me running to scoop Flrpl and throw him over the fence - generally with a "what were you thinking" yell at him.
They probably could. It boils down to your flocks pecking order, how they are viewed by the main rooster/s, and individual personalities.
Well I haven't told DH that I'm adding a third coop....yet; but I do have my eye on a nice one the boys could live in.
I've had up to four with about 30 hens and only minor skirmishes if any. Assorted breeds. I've also had problem roos that couldn't get along with anyone else. Those I cull. So I'd say it just depends on the roos themselves and you won't know until you try. I've had some mean hens too though that liked to cause problems.
they should be okay. i have three roos in my main coop: two are from the same batch of chicks, and the third is from a batch several years later and thay get along fine for the most part. the silkie is still the leader over the cochin and his X breed son . i also have four roosters (2 oegbs, cochin, and a dutch) living a bachelor pad together and they fight ithink more t o have something to do. they're never actually even drawn blood, but they go through the motions of hopping around and raising thier hackles. two roosters will probably have a few skirmishes come spring when testoterone levels rise, but they'll be peaceful for the most part if they are raised together.
Depending on the breed, they could be fine together. I have a couple Cochin roosters that get along with everybody.
Yes, it is possible, but still have a good Plan B in place, just in case. A lot will depend on how many hens you have, and how much room everyone has. I've had several roos at a time that peacefully co-existed, they each had their group of admiring hens and their preferred section of the yard in which to hang out. Still, every so often a couple of them would beat the giblets out of each other. It also gets less amicable when they get older, often a younger roo will challenge one who is getting older & perceptively weaker. Right now it's really busy in my yard. I have 33 hens in two main laying flocks and 2 large roosters who each live with about half of them. They all get to free-range together, and many of them will hop the fence earlier in the day. I also have 20 young cockerels who are about 5 months old, getting ripe for processing. I plan to start on them in April, after MIL leaves from her annual visit. Until then, the cockerels are let out of their pen first thing in the morning, to go free-range & rustle up food for themselves. They are also very interested in the hens, and the 2 older roos are busy kicking them off the backs of their hens. I know, I should butcher these older roos and replace them with the best of the youngsters, but we're too attatched to Old Yeller & Beaker. Things will calm down for them soon when these young roos come in for dinner.
I have 3 with my flock. 2 RIR's 1 Minorca. They get along fine. They had small little fights while establishing their order. The Minorca won. Now they get along fine. I love my boys so much.
I have 9 roos out with about 35 hens and they are doing fine. 5 of them are just getting to their maturing, sassy stage. Even though they challenge each other some, I don't see any out and out scrapping. Just a couple of favorite hens are getting a little wear and tear on them. I believe it depends on the breed and personality of the boys. I actually have some hens out there that get scrappy with each other that is about as bad as what the boys are doing. The funny thing is, there are two coops they go in overnight (and yes, I let them out every day, even in winter unless the windchill drops us below zero). They seem to stay in two groups for the most part. It brings to mind the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together." It had to come from somewhere. Oh, and my roos are Orpingtons, Jersey Giants, Ameraucana, Dark Cornish, NHRed, and GP Hamburg. The worst one right now, my big Blue Orp.