Why can’t I keep 5 roosters

[Chickassan]

I'm not as experienced as some here not by a long shot but years ago when I had a literal butt load of cockrels I was just like you.They were sweet, perched on my hand just great little fellas.Around 4 months in though my yard got rapey really, really, rapey im talking four or five males trying one poor girl.
I had zero fighting though, not that what happened was any better. They are chickens,you're going to see some stuff just don't let your kind heart sabotage your flock or your enjoyment of having it.

Got it, guess I’m just nieve to all of this and want everyone to live in harmony...some may think that’s silly and that’s ok...I’ll do what’s needed for the farm, but I don’t have to like it all

 

[bobbi-j]

That was me...Mrs. K says "solve for the peace of the flock" which also applies here.

Yes - both good things to remember. Romance will meet reality, and solve for the peace of the flock.

 

[centrarchid]

With my American Dominiques I do the multiple rooster thing. When cockerels get to age where they become interested in females, I create a bachelor flock so males can mature without distraction from female side. Males with best characteristics are selected with balance culled. Best male is reintroduced to females while backup(s) are confined singly away from flock.

Another setup has multiple flocks with discrete home ranges which requires acreage or a lot invested in coops and runs. Over last few years I have been maintaining 3 flocks in barn where each has its own 10' x 10' dog kennel. Groups are released on alternate days. Better setup has same sized kennels spaced more so all groups get out every day. The kennels are separated by a lot of tall vegetation.

Both approaches require a good amount of investment and the latter requires acreage.

 

[Mrs. K]

It is rotten, cause they are the most darling chicks. However, cockerels go from the darling to the nightmare very, very often. Not 100% of the time... but the more you have, the more your odds go up, and I would have the plan B set up and ready to go, cause it can be very ugly.

Roosters take experience, and what appears to be friendly is lack of fear, which sounds like that would be a good thing, but it is not. Lack of fear means lack of respect. Means that bird thinks he is bigger and higher than you on the pecking order. It is often that bird that will attack humans. Usually children first, then women, then men.

If you have children, be VERY AWARE. Especially if they are under the age of 6. Most people underestimate how violent a rooster attack can be.

Mrs K

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Ok..so how soon should I start looking for this behavior..and once I separate the males..then what..just let them fight? Ugh

It's not as bad as you think. If they have plenty of space to get away from each other, they can establish a pecking order fairly peacefully. Same thing happens with hens, though roos tend to fight for longer and often test their place in the pecking order more often. Am article you might want to read; https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/rooster-flocks.72998/.

 

[333113]

I have to say, in general, the bantams have not lost that flock instinct, and my Nankins, d'Uccles, and booted bantams can co-exist in large group flocks with no damage to one another. I can pull any hen or roo from a group and take them directly to show (except in molting season).

I guess a lot of the large breeds have had that flock instinct bred out of them. I still see it in some of the rarer large breeds, like Crevecoeurs and Houdans. But I don't keep more than one roo in a group for Ameraucanas, Orpingtons, and Rocks. And I watch the large groups of hens carefully, too, because they can do a lot more damage to one another in enforcing the pecking order than some of the roosters.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I have to say, in general, the bantams have not lost that flock instinct, and my Nankins, d'Uccles, and booted bantams can co-exist in large group flocks with no damage to one another. I can pull any hen or roo from a group and take them directly to show (except in molting season).

I guess a lot of the large breeds have had that flock instinct bred out of them. I still see it in some of the rarer large breeds, like Crevecoeurs and Houdans. But I don't keep more than one roo in a group for Ameraucanas, Orpingtons, and Rocks. And I watch the large groups of hens carefully, too, because they can do a lot more damage to one another in enforcing the pecking order than some of the roosters.

I've noticed this with my bantams too. The roosters can get along with each other well in a mixed flock, and often don't pull out feathers on the hens' backs.