young roosters fighting- no hens

[shannoncat]

when should I break up a rooster fight/give up on trying to get them to get along? I have two brothers that were born in June. I have them in a separate pen from my other chickens because I had heard roosters usually will get along without any hens around, and they get along for the most part but the other morning they were both covered in blood and one was missing some feathers. They were fine after that but I let them outside today (they don't have a run yet) and they tried to fight each other again.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

When blood is drawn things are getting serious....and it's time to intervene.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You say they're in a pen separate from the others, but how separate are they... can they see the other flock, hear them, etc?

 

[shannoncat]

they can hear the other roosters when they're crowing but probably not the other hens. They probably started trying to fight today because when I let them out they went over by the hens. They've been in a separate pen since maybe have way through December and the only time they fought when they weren't around hens was this time this week.

 

[Folly's place]

I would move one or both on; fighting can get out of hand quickly, and you won't be happy to find one or both seriously injured or dead.
Given enough space, sometimes cockerels will work out a pecking order and cohabitate, but often not.
Do you really need either of them?
Mary

 

[shannoncat]

I would move one or both on; fighting can get out of hand quickly, and you won't be happy to find one or both seriously injured or dead.
Given enough space, sometimes cockerels will work out a pecking order and cohabitate, but often not.
Do you really need either of them?
Mary

they're both very friendly roosters and I've become emotionally attached.

 

[Folly's place]

They are seven month old cockerels, and maturing, but nowhere near mature. Worst case, how will you feel if they do severely injure each other?
How many birds do you have? Three separate flocks, each with a rooster, housed separately? So at least two dozen hens, preferably more, to make that work.
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

As long as roosters can get away from each other, I let mine fight it out. If one rooster gives up but the other keeps at him it can become deadly if the loser can't slip away somewhere. Mine are free range so I generally let any fighting roosters fight. If I choose to separate than I need to be prepared to manage that rooster long term in his own pen.

I've penned some roosters together without problems, and others didn't get along. If you are interested in keeping both than you may have to rotate which rooster is out, or pen them separately. Spring is approaching and rooster hormones are beginning to surge, so fighting will get worse.

 

[shannoncat]

As long as roosters can get away from each other, I let mine fight it out. If one rooster gives up but the other keeps at him it can become deadly if the loser can't slip away somewhere. Mine are free range so I generally let any fighting roosters fight. If I choose to separate than I need to be prepared to manage that rooster long term in his own pen.

I've penned some roosters together without problems, and others didn't get along. If you are interested in keeping both than you may have to rotate which rooster is out, or pen them separately. Spring is approaching and rooster hormones are beginning to surge, so fighting will get worse.

Thanks. I'll probably have to separate them, and get another pen for one of them.

 

[KentuckyRooster]

At 7 months their hormones are going to surge. They will spar and may fight viciously- a temporary or permanent separation may be in order. Blood can be a minor thing, they regularly gouge up their combs when they go at each other but I usually try to let them sort it on their own unless they are getting bad. I have 2 roos who love one another and I'm currently dealing with fighting between my sebright and a cock I added to the home. They are sorting it out.