Tale of two Roosters

[judytn41]

About 3 months ago I brought home 4 layers, 2 roosters (1 of which is a Bantham) plus a Bantham hen.

From the beginning, the Bantham rooster literally ruled the roost. The big black Rooster ( I call him Blackie), was relegated to sleeping on a roost outside the hen house, while the bantham rooster stayed inside with the hens.

We use electrified poultry netting to confine them, but move them often to give them fresh pasture.

Last week the Bantham rooster along with the Bantham hen flew over the netting and have been roaming freely ever since. Today the Bantham rooster got inside the fenced pen when I went in to feed, and he and Blackie went a couple of rounds, with Blackie forcing the Bantham to fly out and over the fence. Blackie has finally gotten fed up I guess!

Anyway my question is this: What do I do about the Bantham Rooster and hen when it comes time to feed them or water them, since they are fenced out? Common sense tells me that they can fly into the fenced area again if they want as they flew out of there. They both can really fly--I've witnessed it. I really hate to feed and water them separate from the others as we have cats that will drink or eat their food possibly, and there are other things such as possums, coyotes, raccoons and an occasional stray dog too, around the farm.

What would you do? Thanks, Judy

[Evy]

Simple.... You can separate them or expect them to fight until the bantams(sp) get seriously hurt or killed.

[gospelplayer16]

U need to clip the bantams wings to keep them from flying out. And like Evy said u need to seperate the two roosters. Cause one of them will probably end up dead. If the bantams are allowed to free range, and our left out. Something will get them sooner or later i almost guarantee it.

[goosedragon]

Evy, There is an old saying: It isn't the size of the bird that is in the fight, its the size of the fight that's in the bird that counts"
For example my father used used to have a huge Black Jersey Giant cock who ruled the barnyard for many years ( I hated that bird because he would usually come at me while I was gathering eggs :oops: ) Mostly he ruled by just squaring off and the other cocks and hens would back off. He kept a peacefull barnyard by breaking up the fights of his subjects.
My father became interested in bantys (sorry bantums) and got a young flock of 1 cock and six hens from a neighbor. The peace was gone! that new cock picked a fight with anything that crowed and won each fight until he came up against the Giant. The Giant reached down to give his usual one peck to the comb to any bird that didn't back off because of his size, only to be met by a storm of slashing feet and spurs. That Giant sure could run! My father though things would settle down but that new cock just loved to fight. The new cock made a guest appearance on our dining table as a tasty soup and peace returned to the barnyard.~gd :lol: