Eeek. The tension is mounting

[SundaeGirl]

Two cockerel chicks, seven weeks oldish, one Lohmann brown, the other brahmaish/cochinish.

They've had a few standoffs before but today things have got serious and they're really fighting, tearing at each other's combs, etc, leaping onto each other with proper aggression. I've separated them for now but longer term I planned to leave them to free range in the same flock. Will they settle down or is this unresolvable without bloodshed?

They may do but most likely they wont. if you have a small flock then one cockerel will want to dominate and kill the others. in a larger flock you can get get several sub flocks each with their own cockerel. we have around 40 chickens of which 4 are fully grown cockerels. tbh you have either got to leave them together and see if resolves itself or now that you have separated them you might have to try next seeing them both in the flock. will they be the only boys amongst your girls or do you already have a dominant cockerel? if the latter then the dominant cockerel will definately have a go at both of them. sorry but try them in the flock but it is cruel to let them slug it out imo. i would sooner move one on than let them do this.

I think I'll keep them apart. Both are destined for the table in a few months time and I think it is pretty unresolvable - they're savage together. I've got another chick cockerel in with the brahma/cochinwho I do intend to keep, an appenzeller, who is very much second place.

(I went to a show today and saw a cochin cockerel in a temper, quite a sight!)