They actually get along fine, the only problem is if they can hear the hens, the roosters on the bottom of the pecking order will show, um, rooster wear. there's always a bit of a scuffle when someone new goes in, but order is usually established within a couple days. They have hidey holes for the bottoms to get away from the more, erm, amorous fellows, and 6 separate feeding stations. A mature boy 3-4 years old often seems to fill the role of "police rooster' and will break up fights and attempted matings.Ontario Chick wrote:There you go Jan, leave it to ross to bring something really helpful to the table. I mean coop.
I don't know how you manage keeping so many males without somebody coming to harm.
I am keeping my eye on the 3 cockerels housed together and yesterday I caught them clicking their beaks at each other around the feeder. No idea what they meant by it, hoping it was just a civilized conversation rather then rude insults.
Lucky two got turfed out of his harem yesterday, 2 girls were showing way too much wear for my comfort.
Occasionally someone takes a peck to the eye when they get too big for their britches...that's how I knew old Owl had lost status/ability to keep order and had to come out of there. His eye is intact but his pupil is damaged and he can't defend from that side anymore.
I actually take much more damage than they do...Often Big Blue will jump on the feed bucket and just about tear my arm out of socket if I don't brace myself. Just last night when I went in to feed and water, one launched himself from the top perch, aiming for my shoulder, and missed. I have a 3 inch welt on my cheek from his spur. A couple of them think any bare patch of my skin is sexy. and will draw blood in a short-lived attempt to make sure I brood their babies.
Robbie, I don't feel like I do much at all, certainly not much seems to get accomplished! And the little I actually DO, I have good help :) 24 year old son will share the morning chores if I ask him, and hubby shares the evening ones. The obsessing, though, is all mine LOL