Two roos fighting

[Thtsalotofchickens]

I have two roos that were raised together with the 4 hens they keep an eye on, never had problems with them fighting up until now, they are both about a year old, one is a brahma and one is a barred rock.
Long story short I do NOT have enough hens for the two at the moment but ive got about 18 babies that'll be ready to go outside in May, but my worry is that since they've already tried to kill eachother twice (it was bad, Barred rock is missing toes) would adding the extra hens help or should I part ways with one roo just to keep the peace?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Unfortunately they may always fight. It is their first adult breeding season, and they both want to be top rooster. If your set up is larger the loser may be able to stay on the perimeter. If smaller I would either get rid of one, or swap them out every week or two and keep one penned.

 

[Thtsalotofchickens]

Unfortunately they may always fight. It is their first adult breeding season, and they both want to be top rooster. If your set up is larger the loser may be able to stay on the perimeter. If smaller I would either get rid of one, or swap them out every week or two and keep one penned.

I'm expanding the coop for the arrival of my new babies. So there will be plenty of room once that's done, I would hate for the barred rock to get any more injuries but they go at it through the fence still at this point so they are seperated by two fences.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I've never had two rooster kill each other, but mine aren't confined to a run. I have read of others unfortunately losing birds to fighting. Two will always go at each other so it's a bad number to have.

 

[Thtsalotofchickens]

I've never had two rooster kill each other, but mine aren't confined to a run. I have read of others unfortunately losing birds to fighting. Two will always go at each other so it's a bad number to have.

I live too close to a busy road I'd be afraid they'd get hit by a car or I'd have them free range, they do have a sizable run, i think its mostly not enough hens per rooster at the moment. I'm more worried adding the hens wont matter since they've already gone at it several times

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I live too close to a busy road I'd be afraid they'd get hit by a car or I'd have them free range, they do have a sizable run, i think its mostly not enough hens per rooster at the moment. I'm more worried adding the hens wont matter since they've already gone at it several times

It isn't always about there being more hens. You may be able to get them back together after the summer solstice when hormones start to decrease, and the heat of summer takes some of the fight out of roosters. Every situation is different. Your set up need to be big enough to have two roosters that can get away from each other. All you can do is try and see how it goes. Once they establish a pecking order it may be okay, or it may not.

 

[nuthatched]

Adding more hens or may not fix anything. They'll fight until one submits or is dead