FYI in case someone is dealing with a similar situation in the future and wanting to know what became of this situation.
In my search for females for the boys I came across a rescue organization that was involved in a commercial egg farm rescue. I was blessed with the opportunity to help 14...
The skin incision would likely be minor. But incising the abdomen is painful. And removing the testicles themselves more so.
If an organ has a major blood supply going to it (as reproductive organs do) then you have to cut through a nerve or two in order to remove it. Just because a...
It seems to be mostly during the day when they were together. At night they would cuddle up close to each other sometimes even snuggling their heads on each other. Now that they are separated they have not been fighting through the fence so it is hard for me to judge.
This is so encouraging!
Fingers are crossed!
Now I’m searching for some females old enough to put in and test my theory… of course, no one wants to give up any females. 🤷♀️
Thank you all so much for your valuable feedback! I can see there are so many ways to handle these situations.
I did end up separating the boys via a wall since they continued to have minor squabbles that I was afraid would escalate. My main goal in this was simply to buy me time to figure out...
Wow! Such WONDERFUL feedback from everyone! I’m so surprised at all of the great responses that I have gotten.
There are too many to quote all of them here but I really appreciate all of the ideas and help!
The boys had another squabble and I put the bully, Moe, in a wire dog crate and went...
I agree that the considerations are deeply personal and individual to the situation and the individual creature -human or chicken or anything else.
Thank you for your alternative view. I will base my care choices on the individuals involved with consideration of their needs and continue to...
In your example above, what “evil” did the young roosters commit in order to be outcast in the first place? Your example above is a natural environment without prisons or boxes.
There are many celibate people who live perfectly happy lives. I don’t see this as unethical as long as the being is...
I appreciate your alternative viewpoint. Thank you for sharing.
I would like to suggest that while those “outcasts” are growing and developing in their own group (away from hens) they form brotherhoods and bonds with each other in the same way that any other flock creature does. They establish...
Thank you for your comments!
My husband was talking about putting a wire division through the center of the barn if they do continue to fight. I agree about the establishing pecking order thing.
Right now it seems there is peace in the land again and I’m hoping it stays that way. I’m going...
Sadly I do not know their breeds. I think Moe might be part Americana but I’m not sure. He has a few feathers down his legs and feet too which I don’t believe matches with the Americana guess. But I’m not sure. 🤷♀️ I have no idea what Murphy (the white one) is…. I’ll post some better pictures...
Also, I just read that melatonin can lower testosterone levels in roosters. Does anyone know if this is true?
Maybe if I can get Moes testosterone level down during this first spring, he will mellow with age next year. My old roosters first spring was hard too but he quickly calmed.
Okay, now I’m really confused…
This morning Murphy’s eyes were crusted shut with dried blood. Looked like his comb had started bleeding at some point overnight.
Yesterday I left the boys together because I’ve still been afraid of them fighting worse when I reintroduce them back again and...
I was kind of thinking along those lines. I’m going to go to the hardware store and see what they have. But I was worried that the boys would be able to see too much through the fabric style. Here’s an example picture.
Thank you all for your encouragement. I appreciate it so much.
What is the best visual blockade I can use around their pen? I see Home Depot has some “reed” privacy screen and sun block fabric but I feel like they will still be able to see through the cracks and semi sheer fabric.
Thank you for your thoughts.
Too bad we can’t castrate roosters at a vet!
If it’s hormonal, will they continue to fight through the spring? How can I help abate the increased hormonal aggression towards each other? Do all rooster only flocks start fighting again in the spring?
Hello,
I have three roosters and in the fall the two younger ones (about a year old) attacked our old, disabled rooster. We separated them into a separate barn and decided to create a rooster only flock to solve our problem.
The two young ones, Moe and Murphy, had two pretty significant...