Can multiple roosters coexist in peace?

[Kiwi4]

Hi! Recently I realized that out of the five chickens I bought a couple months ago, four turned out to be roosters (and the fifth one is still suspicious) so, I really don't know what to do now. I already had 6 roosters, each with their own hens and as much as I'll like to, I can't afford to get more hens or even separate them, I don't have the space. I'm dreading the moment their spurs finally grow. I had a few rooster fights... ugly fights.

 

[centrarchid]

If they can spread out then fighting will likely not be as constant. I have run a lot more roosters than six free-range on at least as many acres. They still get into fights although more to maintain pecking order rather than just a chance a breeding rights.

Proper answer for me must consider context of how the chickens are kept.

 

[NatJ]

Hi! Recently I realized that out of the five chickens I bought a couple months ago, four turned out to be roosters (and the fifth one is still suspicious) so, I really don't know what to do now. I already had 6 roosters, each with their own hens and as much as I'll like to, I can't afford to get more hens or even separate them, I don't have the space. I'm dreading the moment their spurs finally grow. I had a few rooster fights... ugly fights.

Some people keep a "bachelor flock" of just roosters. Sometimes that works just fine, sometimes it doesn't.

Some breeds of roosters can live together more easily than others.

Domesticated breeds used for producing eggs or meat are more likely to be able to live together safely. They are commonly raised in groups with several roosters and many hens, so there is strong selection for roosters that can co-exist in those conditions.

Roosters bred for cockfighting are more likely to fight, and more likely to kill each other. (Yes, that does seem obvious.)

Chickens bred for show or ornamental purposes would probably be in the middle. They are more likely to be raised and bred in single-male situations, so there is no real selection for tolerating other roosters or for fighting other roosters.

Each rooster is an individual, so he might be different than what is "normal" for his breed.

I can't give a definite answer, and I don't think anyone else can either. You might just have to try it and see. Be prepared to separate the roosters if needed (individual cages, rehoming, or butchering.)

 

[Yardmom]

Multiple cockerals are different than multiple roosters, and that is not in a good way. I currently have 3 roosters and 4 cockerals (males under a year) in my one coop, and about that many in the other not counting chicks. My mature roos all have there place established. They don't fight and know how close they are allowed to be to the current dominant roo. Cockerals on the other hand are constantly fighting for place and trying to get to the hens. The dominant roo keeps this in check. Without him there would be no peace. A couple of cockerals have passed my oldest roo in rank. That makes it hard for him to eat ect. I have no long term plan for them, so it is off to the action next week for the cockerals. I would not recommend keeping multiple roosters together unless they free range our have very large runs. A bachelor pad may work differently.

 

[centrarchid]

Cockerels versus cocks. Rooster not specific enough. In addition to level of maturity, you have breed, season and sometimes even weather. Disruptions like additions to flock or loss of a higher ranking bird can also affect stability of flock interactions. How the birds are kept also must be considered (i.e. sex ratio, space available, roosting options, light levels).

 

[centrarchid]

I keep ornamentals and fighting roosters with lots of the latter. That provides additional insight into dynamics of keeping multiple roosters.

 

[Mr Oviraptor]

Most Roosters can do fine if theirs enough Hens unless they are Gamefowl, Gamefowl can't be together no matter what

 

[Ridgerunner]

Recently I realized that out of the five chickens I bought a couple months ago, four turned out to be roosters (and the fifth one is still suspicious) so, I really don't know what to do now.

One obvious step is to stop getting more boys unless you have a plan to deal with them. If you can't get sexed chicks where you are maybe get Point of Lay pullets so you know they are girls. You've probably figured this out.

So, what can you do with this group?

1. Let things go until you see that you do actually have a problem. Take action then. Sometimes these things are not as bad as we anticipate. I don't know how you are housing or managing the others so I don't know how realistic this is but I often suggest you go by what you see instead of what some stranger on the internet like me tells you that you will see. But definitely have a plan if you need one. You probably will but every now and then you get lucky.

2. Get rid of these boys. That could be to eat them, sell them, or give them away. I don't know what your goas were when you got these five but it sure doesn't sound like you wanted any boys.

3. Build a bachelor pad. It would need to be big enough so they could live together, but with basic needs met bachelor pads are often successful. If there are no girls to fight over there is usually no more fighting than if you have a pen of hens only.

There may be some variations of these but I can't come up with any other options. Good luck!