Multiple roosters?

[Counting chickens]

We have a big beautiful ameracauma boy, been doing his thing for a couple of months.
We also JUST realized that we also have a buff roo... he obviously plays second fiddle and blends in... until he was attempting to mount one of the ladies ... duh...
Question is, can I expect a lot of trouble with 2 roos? There are 11 ladies...

 

[Valhalla Acres]

There will definitely be fighting, but once they figure out a pecking order the fighting shouldn't occur as much. You will want to watch them closely in case the fighting turns bloody. Whenever we have to many roosters than we just make a whole flock of only roosters. This way there will be no fighting over hens and only pecking order fighting.

 

[aart]

Question is, can I expect a lot of trouble with 2 roos?

Maybe, probably....but maybe not.
Have an enclosure ready to segregate one of those boys,
because if it does get ugly, it happens fast.

 

[Counting chickens]

Maybe, probably....but maybe not.
Have an enclosure ready to segregate one of those boys,
because if it does get ugly, it happens fast.

Good to know, I'll warn the Mrs... She's at home more than I am, odds are she'll have to break it up. And I have a small modular coop that's great for 2-3... Thanks!

 

[emmyn74]

Most likely there will be a problem with them...I usually separate my males and only keep one per pen...if there r more we usually have problems somewhere along the line and I don't really see a reason to have more than one in a flock anyway....

 

[chickengeorgeto]

There will definitely be fighting, but once they figure out a pecking order the fighting shouldn't occur as much... This way there will be no fighting over hens and only pecking order fighting.

As in human interaction girls result in competition among the boys. The only difference is the type or severity of the competition.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Maybe, probably....but maybe not.
Have an enclosure ready to segregate one of those boys,
because if it does get ugly, it happens fast.

If for any reason your alpha rooster becomes sick or injured, the tables will be turned on him and turned fast. Like in the blink of an eye.

 

[NurseB]

I am seriously bummed about the number of roos I have as well..I was thinking only 3 out of the 6 bantam cochins I purchased, buuut I believe to be 4. Now I am looking at only having 2 hens and I am SUPER bummed because I am not one to get rid of animals. They are all raised together and completely free range-with the exception at night. I am seriously hoping I can pull this off by getting more pullets. There has been only minimal "jumping at each other" they seem to know they're place. When I intervein they always stop. Everyone seems content all cuddled together. I need more pullets!! waaaaa!! lol

 

[Shezadandy]

The other thing that can happen is the main rooster may blame the hen for allowing herself to be mated by the other rooster - and he may punish HER. I've seen that happen- the interloper walks away and the hen is the one held responsible. Not good for the poor hen!!

And sometimes the 2nd fiddle rooster will get frustrated and start chasing hens around- because they won't squat for him. These things seem to be worse first thing in the morning and right before they go in the coop.

Young roosters I was hoping to keep would get so nasty that if one so much as jumped down from the roost by herself for a quick drink before lights out, he'd be on her in a second, jumping off the roost, or chasing her violently if she tries to run.

Those meet a swift end at our house. Now- some have the space and set up to try and separate a roo until he gets better hold of his hormones- sometimes he'll learn how to sweet talk through the fence since he can't chase them- but I cull them. I've had many that wouldn't even think of doing such a thing, even as youngsters.

It can go from livable to calamity in a single day- and once these things start happening, they generally do not improve on their own-- and it's the hens that get the worst end of the deal.

I've also had 2 co-exist nicely - each had their own little harem, they all lived in the same coop - very same really big run -- only rehomed #2 in that case because I decided what I wanted to breed for, and he didn't fit the bill.

 

[RWise]

I have seen enuf bad from multiple roosters I dont do it, only 1 one on my flock no mater how many girls I have. Over mating, fighting, "I have to be the last one to mate", punishing the girl/s, one even killed a hen,,,,ok I cant prove it, but he was covered with blood.