Why are my roosters fighting?

[sawilliams]

So your hen and all the roosters freerange together? And if i cuaght that right you only have a total of 3 hens 2 of which are busy?

Your alpha is getting bored and wants to do his thing, he left to visit the neighbors chickens to get his business on. Also sounds like most of your roosters are young but of age, they will start to challange for the alpha roll, and some won't hesitate to kill each other to earn that title. Personally I wouldn't keep a rooster in a pen with a single hen, suggested is 10-15 hens per rooster to avoid mating injuries or stress from over mating (more if he's a very active male). The other roosters shouldn't have any access to the hens as that will only incourage thier wanting to mate and therefore fight. But yes it sound like his day light vacation gave one of the other rooster reason to mutiny against the status quo. Truth is hopefully they will work it out but there is no guaranty. Hopefully you get more hens soon.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have an all rooster flock and a rooster with his hens flock. Normally they have an understanding that the rooster with the hens is the alpha and they fear him. He is also a mature rooster and they aren't even a year old. They usually get along and stay out of each other's way . They are free range by the way. Today my alpha rooster decided to go to a neighbors house and visit the hens there. He was gone all day but I could see him from my house. He just came home and got into a fight with my all rooster flock. Why is this? Was his absence a threat to the pecking order? Will this pass?

Hi.

Let me start by saying that if I was your neighbor... We would be having having a discussion about you keeping your livestock on YOUR property.

Secondly, your "all rooster" flock is in fact a band of stags.... who will be looking for some tail. And try to take another's harem. By sneaking or by force. And the increasing day light has got hormones increasing too.

Whether they grew up together or not really hasn't much baring in my experience. Boys will be boys and every single species including humans fight for the right to mate and try to impress the females... and yes pass on their seed.

I agree that your head boy is in for a challenge.

Oh I should share that I keep a stag pen. It has had boys from many groups, breeds, and ages... not raised together. I keep some boys for breeding and other are growing for eating. I switch them in and out all the time. Recently, my head boy a Marans was gone to the ladies pen for too long and I came home to 2 Silkies stags bleeding from fighting each other and the third avoiding the drama. Well I realize I created THIS confrontation and it was only natural for one of them to try and step up. These Silkie jokers have always tried to gang up on my Marans boy when he returns after only a few days. The first time it caught him off guard. But by day 2 he realized the best defense is a good offense and he commenced to letting them Silkie jokers (who mate each other all day long, to the point I was thinking of getting them saddles) know how the cow ate the cabbage. But this boy Nugget... he's a good boy. He isn't relentless and not needlessly aggressive. That is one reason why he is still welcome here.

Will they fight to the death... sometimes. It hasn't happened here YET. But this boy did put a good beat down on his brother in the early days... Siblings WILL fight. We can't ALWAYS get along with those we live with. We have disagreements to.

But what are you planning to do with all the boys you are letting your broody hatch out right now? I hope you can come up with a better plan. Also that your hatching comes along well!

My mama hens and chicks stay with their rooster and the rest of their flock. He protects them all and call them to treats.

My 8 week old chicks, I have already seen 2 of them copulate on their same age flock mate (not broody raised). So separated them to the stag pen/coop last night. Where my Silkie stags (11 months) were jerks and made their way into the broody breaker for now. But the head roo get's to finish raising them!

I agree with Sourland. My understanding is still growing and changing. I've only been keeping roosters and even then mostly cockerels for about the past few years. I learn something new all the time.

Good luck!

 

[keesmom]

I have a pen area where I can put the mature rooster and his hen until things get better. I have 2 mama hens that's with their chicks separate and a broody. So he's left with just one hen right now. Thank you for your advice I appreciate all responses

So there are only 4 hens total? How many cockerels are there in the juvenile flock?

 

[TheTwoRoos]

You need to watch though.Rooses have the ability to sprain even break another’s neck,spur out eyes,And even R.I.P. combs and wattles off.

Thank you for your suggestions I thought about letting them fight it out. I care dtha k

Thank you for your suggestions you are helpful. I thought about letting them fight it out. I care deeply for all my birds and hate to see one injured. My mature roo has huge spurs and the other roo barely has any since he's not even a year old. That worries me. They have both went to sleep so I hope by morning they have forgotten.