We have two roosters with about 16 pullets. They have never flogged us, but our two previous roosters did. When one of them actually put a hole in my jean's pant leg with his spur, it was time for the dinner pot. I refused to have to watch my back on my own property. Our newer roosters have never been threatening to anyone. I attribute it (perhaps wrongly) to being of mixed breed since we hatched them ourselves from our hens eggs. The previous rooters were full breeds, one leghorn and the one that attacked me was a black andalusian. But I like to keep roosters because they look so nice. I have never had a problem with introducing new chickens to the flock. Just make sure they are old enough to put up with some harrasment from the other chickens. They eventually will all get along.

That's what roos are for, to protect the hens. They do an OK job, but Barred Rocks are known to be laid back and sweet (mine was a total sweetie). I think that breed is wonderful. :) Usually feral cats aren't a problem unless there are chicks--adult chickens are too big for them to take on. At 5 weeks your birds are still very much on the menu. I wouldn't let them roam full-time until they were at least 2 months old. Youngster chicks are very adventurous and love to explore. I'd think the roos will work once they are adults, but any time you let your birds free range you have to be willing to accept a partial or complete massacre by predators--around here I worry about hawks and possums more than feral cats, although we frequently have cats show up in the back yard. My Barred Rock roo once successfully fought a Red Tailed hawk off of one of my buff cochin bantam hens--all this while I was standing not more than 6 or 7 yards away! His courage and instant action was amazing. Velvet ~:>

Those auctions are tough, aren't they? I used to go to an antique auction every week with a girlfriend. Ended up with 2 storage buildings full of good stuff that I didn't need. When I was late on the payment ONE TIME, they called, Dh answered, and I was busted. (Did I mention that he didn't know about any of it?) So now I'm not allowed to go to any auctions without him. Or trade fairs, or flea markets. Sometimes he just has no sense of humor whatsoever... Shortly after I got busted, I had to go on a two-week training trip for my job...he donated it all to a local shelter. Didn't even get a receipt for taxes...I could have killed him. Later that year we were on a trip...somewhere...and went into the coolest shop...it was all shabby chic stuff...old and painted in pretty pastels...and he says "Oh, now I get it. That's what you were planning to do with all that stuff??? You probably could have sold it..." Oh, Really??? Hadn't even thought of that! Suzie

I've managed it a time or two, but basically I have two roosters in holding cages and a third who lives behind a garbage can from the same issue. They call it a pecking order for a reason. If one of them does become sumbissive and back down, you have a chance. But if they don't back down after the initial posturing and scuffle, they usually do fight to the death. I've been successful a time or two, by caging the less dominant cockerel and leaving him in the population and releasing him after a while. But, if they have any type of injury, the dominant rooster will keep on keeping on because they sense the weakness. I lost a nice bantam like this yesterday. He was loose a few days and I finally caught him and returned him. Another bantam decided he would challange the prodigal rooster and blood was drawn. The nice bantam got loose a second time and I could not catch him and realised he'd need a new home anyway. A coon got him after a week of freedom. BTW, hens will sometimes do the same thing. There is a caste system, and one of the competing fowl has to back down, be caged indefinately or literally fight for their lives.