roosters

[Chickensrock423]

Can i keep 2 cockerels in the same coop as they get older if they were raised together?

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Can i keep 2 cockerels in the same coop as they get older if they were raised together?

Maybe. Depends on the space, number of hens and individual males

 

[Chickensrock423]

Maybe. Depends on the space, number of hens and individual males

8 hens, 2 cockerels, 1 male guinea fowl.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Sometimes.

I raise them together then separate them when it’s time for breeding. Once they’re separated they don’t go back together. Given enough space and hens, I can keep more than one together as they mature. I keep close watch on them as time goes on.

 

[DemeterAD9]

For as long as they get along okay, yes. There's a good chance they will eventually start fighting and/or chasing any girls and you'll have to get rid of one. With more cockerels there will be more chasing and it will be harder on the girls. More hens and space will up your chances of being able to keep 2 long term. With so few hens there's the risk of them being over bred which leads to feather damage, bare backs, and injury from spurs and nails.

I've not been keeping chickens very long but I've already gotten rid of 5 cockerels for their bad behavior and will be removing another 2 or 3 soon enough. The plan is to keep 2 with my 19 pullets but I will keep just one if 2 can't get along. I suggest you see how it goes for now but take action when needed.

 

[Chickensrock423]

Sometimes.

I raise them together then separate them when it’s time for breeding. Once they’re separated they don’t go back together. Given enough space and hens, I can keep more than one together as they mature. I keep close watch on them as time goes on.

All of my chickens are still growing. we have them all on my front porch right now. My guinea and one hen is in a dog cage on the porch because the guinea and hen are both aggressive towards the other chickens, they are also older and grew up together. Im not sure what to do with the two of them.

 

[Mrs. K]

The more roosters you have, the greater the chance of it not working. Being raised together has almost no influence on chicken behavior if they are over crowded.

You really need a plan A and plan B, plan A is to keep things like you have them and everyone gets along. Plan B is for when plan A does not work.

I really don't think it will work, but it could. Plan B need to be a way to separate birds and remove some of them from your flock for the benefit of the flock. You really need a concrete plan, and at hand, as if it turns into a wreck, it can happen quickly.

People come here all the time, saying, 'But I love them..." Well when I love something, I don't want it beat up and abused. I remove birds from my flock when it doesn't work out.

MRs K

 

[SamLockwood]

You're a bit thin on hens for two roosters, even if you're free ranging. 6:1 seems to be optimal in my experience for a free range flock l, probably 10 or 12:1 of you keep them cooped up most of the time.

Otherwise, at best you're looking at hens getting over-mated. At worst one of your roosters will murder the other.