I have three roos that have been together since birth. Two are the same breed. They will occassionally do their challenge dance, but have never actually fought. They tend to ignore the third. And they all get along with the hens. But birds do have their own unique personalities and "quirks". In my experience, it has depended on each individual bird. Good luck!

Roo fights can be very nasty. Really, I'd get rid of one of them, since two roos to seven hens is too many anyhow. The only other alternative is to build two seperate enclosures and give each little man a few hens.

I had a large Barred Rock roo that lived as the Head Roo for years alongside a small Frizzle banty roo with no problems and never a fight. Then one day my Head Roo took a fall from grace, and that darned Frizzle roo mercilessly chased and flogged him until his head was bloody, he went blind in one eye and he just stuffed himself under a bush. There was a huge uproar in the flock and the hens were constantly running to get away from the fighting. Even with us right there trying to keep the peace the Barred Rock roo would get attacked, no matter what we did. It was time to choose one or the other, and we ended up getting rid of the Frizzle and keeping the Barred Rock (he was a better roo for the girls anyway).

After we did, we felt better and the hens were no longer upset--it was a good choice all around, for once they start fighting it usually ends up tragically sooner or later, then you'll regret not taking action sooner. I don't envy you the choice you're going to have to make, it's a tough one. :(

Velvet ~:>

Well, I found out the hard way what can happen.:( I put the "loser" from yesterday's fight out to freerange, while I kept the others in their run. He's been known to spend all day this way because he lets himself out by flying. He usually spends the whole day hanging very close to the run anyway.
He and the other roo made eye contact through the fence and had a little hackle raising, but that was it. I spent nearly an hour watching them for signs of more fighting. Everyone was settled down when I went to the grocery store.
I came home to a disaster. The fence of the run is evidentally just big enough for small heads/beaks to fit through. He was a even worse and I think his skull must have gotten popped one too many times. He died not long after I brought him in.
I feel like a chicken failure. I really thought it would be okay----like it was last time. Wrong! No more roos!
What kills me is that folks fight their roos on purpose. How could anyone enjoy seeing one thing kill or maim another???
Thanks for your help. I'm sorry it turned out this way.
Carla :(

did I understand that you lost both roo's?.

What a shame about the whole thing though, you can definetly mark it up to a learning lesson. I would like to say though, I figured out the hardway that, that is to many roo's for that many chickens. we had two roo's to four hens they favored just one hen and took the meat right off her back. she healed but I learned a lesson. I hated getting rid of the roo's, they were big beautiful healthy colorful birds. the guy we gave them to said he wanted to breed them I just hope he doesn't eat em.

Carla, so sorry to hear about your roosters. I know how you must be feeling having been through much the same thing recently when my old, one-eyed roo Napoleon trounced the cockerel who was to later be his replacement. (I posted about it... The thread "Rooster Fight - Learming the Hard Way" is a couple of pages back.)

I know some people say they have no problem keeping more than one roo. Seems to me that when there are many roos there is less fighting than with only two. After my experience this year I would not try keeping a cockerel past sexual maturity again, unless I first culled the older roo. We had to put our cockerel down due to the severity of his injuries -- and it makes me sad to think of his unnecessary suffering. Better I had culled him with the others for the table.

I always feel bad when I make a mistake with any of my critters, but I try to remind myself that no one can know everything about raising them. Unforeseen situations will arise... and all we can do is learn from them and keep them from happening again. So please don't beat yourself up over this, Carla.

Maggie I believe that you are correct re: the larger numbers of roosters being a "safer" situation than having only two or three.

I have a group of banties that live in relative peace that includes 10 roosters and 12 hens. The hens do not show signs of obvious "gang banging" and the fights among the roosters are short lived and seldom result in obvious injuries.

I certainly hope that this situation continues. I believe that most of us who keep a small number of animals are crushed when they are killed or injured. And, it happens to all of us at times. Hang in there, Carla.

Judy

Chicken Ingenue,
No, I lost one roo. My other roo is just fine except for a beat up comb and wattle.
I had just hoped they would work it out. They were the only two that hatched out of a clutch of 7 eggs (of course!). They were my first hatched-at-home babies. Seeing how things turned out, they are probably my last. It seems I'm just too soft hearted to risk getting more roos. More chicks will come from Ideal hatchery next time.
If there's one bright spot in this whole mess----the sweeter of the two roos is the one that survived. Hopefully, that won't change now that his rival is gone.
Thanks for your encouragement, everyone.:)
Lessons learned.
Carla

You are fortunate, Judy, that your hens are not suffering from the presence of so many roos. One of the reasons I cull the cockerels each year (apart from providing some good dinners for us) is for the hens' sakes. Cockerels can be really brutal.

Napoleon does his job but now that he is older (nearly three) he is much more moderate in his demands on the girls. He seems to have fully recovered from his accident (apart from the loss of sight in the left eye) since trouncing the cockerel... I guess it restored his lost confidence.