My two 6 week old roosters are sparring with each other.

[BlueEggsAndHens]

My 6 week old roosters are sparring with each other.
I'm getting rid of the other rooster next week but they only spar when they get let out of there pen in my house.. and the more dominate rooster I'm keeping and he keeps picking at the other 6 week old hens... It's not aggressive and not breaking skin but like a warning but again only out of there pen but after an hour he stops peeking them and sparring stops sparring with my other rooster

Should I be worried or is he just showing his domminance
thanks

 

[AGeese]

So this only happens when you free range? It sounds pretty normal, but you would want to make sure it's not causing undue stress because of the situation you're keeping them under.

 

[wrathsfarm]

I agree sounds normal pecking order, play, gearing up for dominance type stuff. As long as it's not relentless or drawing blood I let them go. Space to get away from each other and multiple feeders and waterers out of line of sight if one is guarding them helps.

 

[BlueEggsAndHens]

Yeah it's not like his guarding them or drawing blood.
Thanks I thought that was the Case but as a first time chicken owner I wanted to me sure

Thanks a lot

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You need to know that cockerels (male chickens under a year old) attain sexual maturity earlier than pullets (females less than a year). At around 4 months of age your young sir is going to have one thing on his mind, and the pullets won't want any part of it. He may chase them relentlessly, jump on them and try to force them into submission by grabbing their head feathers. He could terrorize or even injure them. Watch out for this and be prepared to keep him in separate quarters for a couple of months until the girls begin to lay. At that point, they'll be ready for him and things should calm down. (Things may or may not transpire as I've described. Just be aware that it could happen, and be ready. )

 

[wrathsfarm]

You need to know that cockerels (male chickens under a year old) attain sexual maturity earlier than pullets (females less than a year). At around 4 months of age your young sir is going to have one thing on his mind, and the pullets won't want any part of it. He may chase them relentlessly, jump on them and try to force them into submission by grabbing their head feathers. He could terrorize or even injure them. Watch out for this and be prepared to keep him in separate quarters for a couple of months until the girls begin to lay. At that point, they'll be ready for him and things should calm down. (Things may or may not transpire as I've described. Just be aware that it could happen, and be ready. )

Yes, this is a good point especially with multiple boys. I'm fortunate enough that my main roo doesn't allow the young boys to mate his girls in his presence, so I can keep them in the flock until 12-14 week range. By then tho, their getting feisty and Kong can't control them out free ranging so I need to separate them out until I can select thru for breeders.

A spare coop and run is a must have to isolate young cockerels in my opinion especially if you have multiples and no older hens to school the young guys and keep them from tag teaming and over mating.

I've isolated a single cockerel out during peak mating times but letting them out daily to free range together with the pullets/hens in the past under supervision with success. But never allow over mating and especially tag teaming is a solid NO.

Took this pic yesterday of my bachelor coop of 7 boys
There's 6 here.

Poppy my dominant cockerel of the group was chilling on the ducks door.

I've got 5 more boys... My 2 main roos and 3 that are 12 weeks old in with one of my main roosters coop I'll need to separate out soon.