Too Many Roosters in the Hen House

[RollTideChicken]

So hello and good day to y'all!

What I am wondering is this...

I have two RIR roosters in with four hens (3 ISA, 1 Australorp) I know this is a bad ratio, but that's another topic.

What is happening is the best looking of the two roosters is a total PITA. I originally wanted to cull them both but then I got to thinking I might hang on to one of them for breeding purposes.

Would the attitude of the aggressive one tone down once he is the only cock in his pen? Otherwise, I'll have no other choice but to cull him as well. He's not just aggressive in that he only wants to fight but he will not leave the ladies alone, total chick-chaser and really sort of, well honestly I don't know how else to put it...he's very rapey. He doesn't pitch woo at all! Just takes and moves on like he's trying to keep score.

The other sub-rooster is much less attractive and looks all wrong like a commercial layer but is not aggressive towards anything. I wouldn't really want to keep him for breeding.

I do have a Bielefelder roo as well(total gentleroo), in with 6 other hens and I could just have him sevice all my girls but I thought maybe having a second rooster of a different breed might add some vigor to my backyard flock. I'll try and get a good pic of the RIR this evening and see what y'all think of him.

Any suggestions are appreciated since you folks are really the only people around that I can chew the chicken-fat with.
Thanks!
RTR

 

[Danielle2006]

I would remove the laid back rooster for a few days to see if the more aggressive one calms down it's hard to keep 2 roos in the same pen with hens without one of them acting like a complete jerk

 

[Mrs. K]

Really what I think you are saying is that you really don't like either rooster, one for behavior, and one for looks, go with your original plan, cull both of them. Look around, if you want some hybrid vigor, people always have extra roosters, try one of those.

 

[Folly's place]

It sounds like you have a plan, and your second favorite is being a jerk, (just to spite you). I do understand! I would remove both of these cockerels, because one isn't built right, and the other one is too rowdy. At least move the underdog along, you aren't going to use him anyway.
I removed a cockerel from my flock last fall over his behavior with the pullets and hens. Life became much nicer, especially for those ladies!
You have a nice rooster! Stick with him, and then raise more straight run chicks this year, and try picking another cockerel. Better luck in 2018!
Mary

 

[RollTideChicken]

Yea I didn't get home in time to get a pic before dark...
I'll probably just take'm both out like I should've already done.
Thanks to you all for talking me through it...
RTR

 

[RWise]

I myself do not like RIR roos, they all have attitude issues.
Chicken n dumplings time!

 

[RollTideChicken]

I culled the sub-rooster. The other's attitude has changed for the better. In fact he's not even breeding the hens as much, which is fine by them I'm sure.
There is peace in the pens...

 

[aart]

I culled the sub-rooster. The other's attitude has changed for the better. In fact he's not even breeding the hens as much, which is fine by them I'm sure.
There is peace in the pens...

Congrats!
Perfect example of 'competitive environment' corrected.

Had a dominate cockerel(Woody) reigning terror on the pullets,
prior to sub-cockerels coming of age he was mellow and gentle.
I removed younger cockerels, and Woody calmed down immediately(like within minutes).
It was a striking lesson that I learned early,
now all cockerel hatchlings are in freezer by 13-16 weeks..