chestnutmare Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 ...And on what terms? Sorry, lots of questions:- Can they live together happily as long as they were hatched together? Can they live happily together without girls? Can they live happily together with girls, as long as there's enough to 'go 'round'? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 I have 3 bantam cockerels and 10 bantam hens, all living in a large walled garden. The 3 boys each have an eglu, with their various harems, although there have been a few sleepovers with girls from different Eglus! One of them has to be kept from the others behind Omlet netting because he is very aggressive and has duffed up the other two boys when they made the mistake of getting too close to him. I would never let him out, although he did escape once and had a fight with one of the other boys. I managed to separate them without any damage being done, but it could have been very nasty. The other two tolerate each other, but there has been some argy bargy over the girls, and I think it only works successfully because one of them defers to the other, they have plenty of room and their paths don't need to cross. My answers to your questions would be: Not necessarily. My SIL had 3 cockerels, a father and 2 sons, and they were apparently ok with each other, but I'm not sure that would always be the case. I believe so, though I have no personal experience of this scenario. From what I have read, it is the presence of the girls that gives rise to problems, but I wouldn't take that as gospel. In certain circumstances yes, but I think there is always a risk of them fighting. Probably not very helpful, but it is difficult to generalise and I would say don't do it unless you really want/have to do so! Others will no doubt have different views and experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 Males reared together are usually fine as one will always be more dominent and the other/s wont normally challenge that When you add females in to the mix it does often end in tears If you have enough room and if each male has his own females you may be ok but here its strictly separate runs once they hit maturity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surf_space Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 If the cockerels have been hatched together should be fine to live together, as long as their is enough ladies to go round! Equally if you just wanted to keep cockerels together they should be alright in their own little bachelor pad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 10, 2012 Share Posted August 10, 2012 in my experience they are indeed all fine till they get to maturity and a power struggle normally starts between the boys regardless of how many females there are in the group If keeping in batchelor groups its vital that adjoining pens dont contain females Boys constantly kept on the hop by dominant males often lose condition too and can get run down In your 'pet' situation CM I can only suggest that you try it and see what happens, Silkie males are more laid back than some others. You may find that even if you get no fighting you may encounter crowing competitions though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 11, 2012 Author Share Posted August 11, 2012 Thank you for your experiences and advice. I'm lucky that my chicken friend, with a lovely set up, has taken my 3 boys. But still good to know this for future reference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted August 13, 2012 Share Posted August 13, 2012 In your 'pet' situation CM I can only suggest that you try it and see what happens, Silkie males are more laid back than some others. You may find that even if you get no fighting you may encounter crowing competitions though A crowing competition, that is interesting. We have noticed that since the two boys have gone Tumble (Silkie boy) has stopped doing his practice crows. I wonder if that is bcause he does not feel the need to compete with bigger and louder boys. OH has asked if I am sure he is a he Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted August 13, 2012 Author Share Posted August 13, 2012 In your 'pet' situation CM I can only suggest that you try it and see what happens, Silkie males are more laid back than some others. You may find that even if you get no fighting you may encounter crowing competitions though A crowing competition, that is interesting. We have noticed that since the two boys have gone Tumble (Silkie boy) has stopped doing his practice crows. I wonder if that is bcause he does not feel the need to compete with bigger and louder boys. OH has asked if I am sure he is a he Chrissie My pekin boys started crowing at 4wks, the two silkie boys were later and only ever crowed once the pekin has started. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
