Roosters Fighting

[Christie311]

I had three roosters hatch out this past June and they were kept with my main flock (8 hens and one rooster) until they started to want to mate, then I moved the three over to their own coop. That was about the end of Oct. They squabble here and there but it's nothing much and it's not every day. They fluff up their neck feathers and zoom around, then it's over. Or they might get a peck in and then they are fine. At worst I see the comb have a small red scab once in a while. Really they are pretty laid back in general, we hold them and carry them around and they are good. They have nipped us a few times over the summer not wanting held but nothing bad. Now we are the end of Jan and today we let them out while we filled the food and two of them got in a serious fight. I also want to mention that they are making so much noise, crowing and singing the "egg song". Much more noise than usual. We got them apart and one has a wattle hanging down bleeding everywhere. I thought it was a bad fight but then they just wont stop. They are trying to fight through the cage (I put one in and left the other one out). I put one of them in a cage that's empty for the moment and thought they would cool off, came back out hours later to let them out and they went right back to it. Nothing has changed in their lives other than the weather. We had a cold snap and today is the warmest day we have had but yesterday was much warmer as well so that doesn't make a lot of sense. But there are no other changes. Should I put him on the roost in the dark and see if they are ok in the morning? I'm worried I'll wake up to one dead ! they were not backing down. The temporary cage is really not suitable (I put my rabbits in it for the summer) and it's still cold for a single chicken to be out in it. What is going on with them????

 

[WingItRanch]

Nothing has changed in their lives other than the weather.

Well one thing has changed... they're 7 months old. Their hormones are really kicking into full gear.

What are your plans/goals for them? Were you planning on keeping them in a bachelor flock away from your main flock?

 

[Mrs. K]

This is a prime example of bachelor flocks working, until they don't. Sometimes on here, bachelor flocks are tooted as a perfect way to keep all those extra roos, and life will be grand.... but often, not forever.

There really is no guarantees with roosters. Sometimes you get multiple roosters that get a long for years. Some get along for a while. Some fight once, and settle it. And some fight until the death.

Some people, say, "Let them duke it out!" Well that is cock fighting, and if you sold tickets it would be illegal?

Please do not put him back or he will very likely be hurt a great deal more. One of the few consistent things with roosters, is they do not go back to nice.

Mrs K

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Some people, say, "Let them duke it out!" Well that is cock fighting, and if you sold tickets it would be illegal?

Thank you for putting such a clear spin on it.

 

[Christie311]

This is a prime example of bachelor flocks working, until they don't. Sometimes on here, bachelor flocks are tooted as a perfect way to keep all those extra roos, and life will be grand.... but often, not forever.

There really is no guarantees with roosters. Sometimes you get multiple roosters that get a long for years. Some get along for a while. Some fight once, and settle it. And some fight until the death.

Some people, say, "Let them duke it out!" Well that is cock fighting, and if you sold tickets it would be illegal?

Please do not put him back or he will very likely be hurt a great deal more. One of the few consistent things with roosters, is they do not go back to nice.

Mrs K

Ugh... Well I thought life was grand for these guys! I kept him out last night to be safe and tried to see how this morning would be and he went for him straight away so I just snatched him up. I don't want them to duke it out but I also don't want to stop them from doing a normal establishment if it's needed. I just don't see that being the case is why I am stopping them right away. He goes straight for him, there is no dancing or feather puffing like I have seen them do with little tiffs. It's just straight to fierce fighting Thanks for your thoughts on it all, it's helpful to know that the bachelor pad doesn't always work out. My daughter loves these guys it's going to be rough on all of us!

 

[Christie311]

Well one thing has changed... they're 7 months old. Their hormones are really kicking into full gear.

What are your plans/goals for them? Were you planning on keeping them in a bachelor flock away from your main flock?

The plan was to keep them in a bachelor flock because the main flock already has a rooster (he's about 2yrs old) and it's a very peaceful flock. I took the 3 out when they started to mate and cause chaos in the main flock. We had hoped to rehome the 3 bachelors but my daughter just loves them. Overnight they wanted to kill each other, there was no progression, just chill and hanging out to death blows!

 

[WingItRanch]

The plan was to keep them in a bachelor flock because the main flock already has a rooster (he's about 2yrs old) and it's a very peaceful flock. I took the 3 out when they started to mate and cause chaos in the main flock. We had hoped to rehome the 3 bachelors but my daughter just loves them. Overnight they wanted to kill each other, there was no progression, just chill and hanging out to death blows!

Yikes. Yeah, I think the idea of bachelor flocks are a nice thought but just like with a flock of hens, there will be a pecking order. The males are just more serious about it and can definitely kill each other. Maybe you can approach the subject again with your daughter and explain that they need to be in flocks of their own and it's time to rehome them? Good luck!

 

[Christie311]

Yikes. Yeah, I think the idea of bachelor flocks are a nice thought but just like with a flock of hens, there will be a pecking order. The males are just more serious about it and can definitely kill each other. Maybe you can approach the subject again with your daughter and explain that they need to be in flocks of their own and it's time to rehome them? Good luck!

Yes! I'm going to need it! There have been many conversations and tears. Her solution was to get them each a flock of hens for their own at our house vs rehoming LOL secretly I love the idea but..... LOL

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Courage, Mom! This is a wonderful opportunity for a Learning Experience. This is where Romance meets Reality, and everyone, sooner or later, has to learn that what we want isn't always feasible. Good luck!

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had 3 roosters that grew up together, one rooster I really liked was a bantam. The hens liked him too. One day the 2 full sized boys beat up and killed the nice bantam. I didn't want to keep either of the other two after. I rehomed one to a home with no other rooster, and the other I just freezer camped. Moral is to make sure the rooster you like doesn't get killed by others.