Which one?

[Schreib69]

Which one should I cull?

We have 3 legacy hens who all get along, 18 mos old(Rosie, Sparky, and Goldie). This summer 3 new chicks from a neighbor farm hatched out and they are not happy in their home here. Scarred to death of the 3 hens. They are:
2 roosters and one hen— unnamed. I decide two months ago one of the roosters(at least!) has to go. They have been fighting and tonight the smaller rooster refused to come in at night— it is only 18F; he is under the coop in the unheated area but enclosed. I believe he is afraid to go up the ramp for fear of getting his ass kicked!

The alpha rooster is not bothering the hens(only six months old) but he has found plenty of occasions to beat on #2.

A possible plan:
— Alpha rooster on the chopping block, let the littler guy live.
— If the little rooster finds it necessary to beat up the hens next spring (like Red our old rooster did), he won’t be around much longer either . . .

 

[Debbie292d]

It's hard because at that age of under a year, some cockerels' hormones are going crazy. If you could fast-forward to them being a year old, you might find favor with the one you didn't before. What they are like now isn't indicative of what they'll be like several months from now.

If you can't wait, I guess I'd go with what your heart tells you, as one of them you must like a little better. The only other consideration is their looks, but since you didn't mention breeding, maybe that's not a concern.

 

[Crazy Chicken Keeper]

I'd just seperate the young one till his hormones have settled down, and see which one I like the most once the young roo has matured a bit

 

[Ridgerunner]

What are your goals with having a boy? Are you planning on hatching chicks? If so, which male do you want the chicks to take after? If you are not planning on hatching what role do you want that boy to fulfill? To make a decision you need some criteria.

Your 6 month old cockerels are still immature. When one matures enough he will mate with the hens. The hens may be willing or they may put up a fight. Eventually the hens will probably accept him as flock master and all will be peaceful but you do not know how smooth or rough that process may be.

At 6 months they are too immature for you to know how they will behave when they mature. Either one may become human aggressive and attack you or they may not. You just don't know. Either one should eventually take over as flock master. Usually once they mature the flock is peaceful, but not always. Either one may be able to take over from the adult hens pretty peacefully or it may be a knock down drag out fight.

Your cockerels may fight to the death or they may eventually work out how to take care of the flock together. With what you are describing I'd be concerned.

A dominant male will suppress the actions and behaviors of the submissive one. You cannot tell how the submissive one will behave until the dominant one is gone. He may be sweet to you and the hens and remain so or he may totally flip a switch and become horrible when he is in charge. Sometimes the more dominant one competes with the other while he is around and may be more brutal until the other one is gone and the competition is over.

All of this to say that you do not know how either one will turn out when he matures. If you have a reason to choose one, do so. If they appear equal in your sight, flip a coin. Your chances of having a happy peaceful flock are about the same either way.

Good luck!