i bought a new roo at the fair this past aug. when they were put together, the old roo beat the crap out of the new. after time i put them together last friday. to date the new roo is still alive but gets beat up every day. my question is will the old roo accept the new roo ever? or would it be better to eatthe new one? old roo is white ? silky ? it has 5 toes, age ;unknown new roo; black sex link appx.1 yr old any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks only had chickens since july am learning as fast as i can

-- bill van fossan (van37725@yahoo.com), October 16, 2001

Answers

Anytime I had more than 1 at a time, they always fought. When they were far enough apart from each other they were fine but the older one would always run across the yard and chase or fight - especially if there were any females on the other side. For us, it wasn't worth the fighting - we went back to only 1. Unless you have alot of hens, you won't need more than the 1. As for eating the younger one - if he's already a yr. old, he'll be pretty tough to eat - might have to boil him and make up some soup.

-- Pat (mikulptrc@aol.com), October 16, 2001.

for a min there, I thought we were talking about KANGAroo

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), October 16, 2001.

Me too, Stan! Of those, I know absolutely nothing about!

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), October 16, 2001.

No matter what the critters are, whenever new critters are brought into the old critter's territory, proper introduction has to be made. I have a lot more roosters than is recommended and I don't have problems. The hens and roos free range together during the day and roost together in the pens at night. Here's what works for me.

All new birds are penned for 3 weeks. My pens are wire, and the old flock while free ranging, can see the 'prisoners' and vice versa. I also free feed. This will train the birds to return to the pens on their own to roost at dusk.

At the end of the 3 weeks I open the prisoner's gate and the birds all mingle. I've yet to have a problem doing things this way.

If the pen is moved, or you move to a different house, the 3 week jail time has to be repeated so the birds will return to the new pen.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2020@yahoo.com), October 17, 2001.

How many hens?

Try putting the new roo in a cage or separate as suggested so they can "talk" to one another through the wire before you introduce to the flock.

After a few days, put the new roo on the roost at night when they are sleeping.

There will still be some fighting because a pecking order must be established.

-- Ann Markson (tngreenacres@hotmail.com), October 17, 2001.

roosters are MALE. All male animals are supposed to fight for dominance. All my roosters have fought each other, even though they were raised together. It's called nature. If you dont like it, separate them.

-- daffodyllady (daffodyllady@yahoo.com), October 17, 2001.