What are the chances? *ATTENTION Multi-roo owners*

[SilverPhoenix]

Oh, and I might as well note that at the sanctuary where I work, we have forty-plus roosters currently sharing a pasture, and guess what? No fights at all, nada. The most peaceful group of roosters you ever did see! There are hens here and there in the flock, but they're an extreme minority in this particular flock now.

I think for roosters, it's all about space and working out territory. If they have enough space and establish a pecking order, they do just fine. Sure, you have to keep an eye on them just in case a conflict does erupt, but for the most part they work things out peacefully. Seeing all of these roosters together living happily has really changed my view of roosters in general.

 

[azygous]

Hah! I have two roosters, and 36 acres isn't big enough for them to co-exist peacefully! It's a daily shuffling ritual to alternate who's out and who's in the pen so no one gets maimed or killed.

And these two were raised together in the same brooder.

 

[write2caroline]

I have 1 run and 8 roos. For the most part they get along. They do square off and act all macho and jump at each other and to date no one is hurt. My oldest and biggest roo I have trimmed off his spurs and the younger ones spurs are blunted and not sharp. I have 5 bantam roos, and three standard roos. Razzamatazz is the alpha roo and everyone gets in line from there. I have a lot of females. The top three roos have a following and the rest sort of are bachelors but they all get along pretty well.

SLW Roo - Razzamatazz, (He is beautiful but not so nice)
SLW-Barred Rock Mix Roo - Sonof - (Son of Razz)
Copper Marans - no Name but he is Gloriously Handsome We just call him Copper
Barred Bantam Cochin - Little Big Man
Black Bantam Cochin - Napoleon
Game Cock - phoenix Bantam Roo - Jabberwokkee (He is gorgeous too)
Bantam EE Marble - No name thought he was a she till he crowed
Bantam EE Browns and Golds - No Name thought he was a she too until he crowed

I have 25 pullets/hens

Caroline

 

[centrarchid]

Quote:
I am not sure how this sets up (how to repeat), but I have had some luck with multiple roosters in my free range setup. My flock is actually made up of sub-flocks, each with a few hens and a dominant rooster. I think part of what enables is having multiple feeding stations and multiple discrete roosts. The flocks tend to avoid each other. Rooster - rooster conflicts usually involve dominant rooster from a flock and a rooster that is not a leader as in a rooster that usually moves about by himself. Conflicts are usually one sided and of short duration and almost always end in favor of dominant rooster.

 

[karimw]

The biggest issue I see with extra roosters is the hens get bothered a lot. I guess I need tougher hen saddles

I have 3 older roos that get along fine though there was a switch in the pecking order recently. I've also got 9 6 month olds so all the young roosters are carrying on but the young hens aren't really ready. It is funny to see the older hens beat up the young roos though

 

[secuono]

If there are enough hens, enough space and each roo has it's own breed of hens grown with him, they will stay with him.
At least that's how mine work.
I've got 2 Jap roos[dad & son], Jr. Roo has any hens that stray from Mr. Roo.
My 3rd Roo is top roo of the mix hens, Mr. Roo does not bother the Mix Roo's hens and vis versa.
Any and all other Roos, 2 juvie Japs & 1 Silkie Roo, are subordinate to everyone and get nothing. The 3 support the top 3 Roos in the flock.

 

[gritsar]

Thanks for the input y'all.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

Our Orph, Jersey Giant, SLW and full sized Cochin plus male guinea will generally all live reasonably happily together. No death match wars at least. Nothing causing injury. Sometimes excess strutting, but they mostly live and let live.

The bantam Cochins however. 2 of the whites are happy and pleasant to each other. No problems. The lemon blue Cochin shrugs and says what do I care. The frizzled lemon blue Cochin roo - can't live with the bantam Cochins as we have frizzled girls - lives with the egg layers year round, and he will strut in front of the big boys, and they look at him like "Yeah right short stuff" and ignore him. He has 14 BRs and 9 Lorps of "his own" so he doesn't have any real need to squabble to prove how big his ego is.

HOWEVER - The 3rd white roo is a raging jerk and gets thrown in the time out pen all the flipping time. Said idiot wants to fight with the big chooks. Said idiot has challenged the peacock. I'm debating the merits of sending him to freezer camp. I'm not sure a 2 lb bird who is half feathers makes a good member of freezer camp, but I'm sure the cats would enjoy him.

 

[gritsar]

"Ranchhand" (BYC member) being the sweety that she is, kindly informed my DH this morning that I am keeping all my roosters and that he needs to build another coop. Thanks Ranchy

He can't hurt her from 1,200 miles away

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Ranchy tattled?

I have a feeling that your DH probably already figured