[derbyshirenovices]

As our name suggests we are not the world's experts on hens so a bit of advice would be appreciated.
We have a flock of 15 Derbyshire Redcaps. The old rooster has been the boss for several years (from before we moved here and inherited the flock). We thought we would let one of the young cockrels grow up so that when the old man dies of old age he would have a naturral successor. However, things have got a bit bloody all of a sudden. The young one seems to have found his confidence and the old one is coming off worse. Can these two ever live together harmoniously in the same flock? If we isolate the old man for a while will he ever be able to rejoin?

[doganjo]

I had exactly this problem.  Do not isolate either of them, when they return together there will be a fight to the death.  My solution was to re-home my old boy, and he is still alive at 10 years of age.  Others might put one of them on the table for dinner tonight!  I don't eat my own animals although quite happy to exchange :-)

[garden cottage]

get rid of one or permanently keep them split which is a pain. weve had various killer cockerels they will keep going until one of the birds is fatally injured,

[Birdie Wife]

I had this problem recently - two of my cockerels which had been living together fairly amicably had started fighting and my rare breed cockerel came off worse.  I decided to cull the other cockerel because I wanted to breed with the rare breed, and the 'victor' was getting on in years and fertility drops off significantly.  If you want to continue to breed Derbyshire RC I would recommend a 'permanent retirement' for the old fella and let the younger cockerel take over his harem.  Sorry if that sounds harsh - the other option is to separate him from the rest of the flock permanently, which isn't fair on him either because chickens are flock animals.  Do the deed and let peace reign 

[stephen]

Or get some more chickens and have two flocks! or just keep one big flock.... the extra girls may take their minds off fighting and onto the deed they are ment to do! 

[Wellieboots]

It's a typical natural battle for breeding supremacy, you won't be able to stop it so all the above advice is spot on. Seperate them and depending upon how old the elder cockeral is, as already said he might still be fertile or he might be best suited for the crock pot.

Without wanting to start a whole kill & eat or not debate, I'd kill the old boy and make use of him as a table bird. After all, is that not what we are all about as either smallholders, aspiring smallholders or self -sufficientists? Do it humanely and enjoy the bird a second time over as it were (& use the carcass for stock & freeze it for later use!). Job done, no waste.

[derbyshirenovices]

Thanks for the advice. We did the deed this morning and will make some chicken soup tomorrow.
Quite a few of the flock are his chicks so something of him lives on.