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We have several roosters in our flock and are unable to free range and the boys will fight each other even through the wire between their lots. They have individual coops, waterers and feeders. To simplify their care, I am looking for ideas for the feeders. We currently recycle the gallon size water bottles by cutting out one of the sides large enough for them to get their head into to the feed. I gather these each night because of rodent concerns and there is no way to close these. I was wondering if you all have thoughts for a feeder that would allow them to get their heads and combs in to feed but allow me not to have to collect them each night and redistrbute each morning. We currently have seven roosters. I appreciate your outreach. You are absolutely right. Working with these roosters, I've seen their behavior is very, very misunderstood. It's nice to know there are others who see it, too.

The Madone farm 1/4 mile away has a lot of chickens, and during winter 2024 Papa Madone passed away. Apparently one of the roosters, most likely Papa's, started spending a lot of time and roosting at the silos/cornfield across the street. In April of this year, the rooster ventured into our forest, probably sensing correctly that we're wannabe animal sanctuary caretakers. He - now named Rowan - can be aggressive, but I'm positive it's from our lack of a schedule; losing his dad; being lonely; etc. He's completely free range, and finds a lot of good green and insect snacks in the yard. Our cat Ciri probably leaves things around he can eat, too. We give him water, a handful of grains twice a day, and try to give him other vegetable/fruit snacks every day. I'm also trying to figure out how to set up a cabbage swing; some log/branch roosting bars; remember to go thrift shopping for chicken appropriate toys; and otherwise make our yard more chicken-friendly. We have bushy weeds he likes to spend time in; I've set up a few spots on the ground near the house where Rowan knows he can be safe/nest; he can go in the shed next to the house; and go under our deck. We're sorting out building him a house, so unfortunately he still has to sleep outside, or walk back to his old house/the silos. He's roosting on our awning roof. It's a crap situation, but at least he feels safer 😟? He stays close to the house area out of the trees, except for when he walks down the field to my in-law's to crow at them/their dogs/roosters from other farms, lol. He stays close to my husband and I when we're outside, for the most part. We spend as much time with him as we can just chillin, but like y'all alluded to in the aggressive rooster video I just watched, we ultimately have different entertainment needs cuz he's a chicken and we're humans. We do wanna adopt more chickens eventually, but we don't want more roosters. I understand that one needs 4 to 8 hens to himself to keep the whole flock healthy, and we won't adopt more animals on purpose til we can create a better living situation for them. Having said all that, we know he still needs a chicken family, or at least some kinda family that lives outside full time. He and Ciri are begrudging siblings, and she's indoor/outdoor anyways. I didn't expect that I'd love a rooster, but the universe obviously had different plans! Do you have any suggestions for addressing his loneliness, or any other suggestions? He's such a sweet lil guy, and I wanna provide a good environment for him. Cheers, and have a swell day 🍻 💝!

Howdy, our rooster, Stelios, has been with us for about a year now. He has 6 hens in his flock, and is a very good protector. However, he has become highly aggressive, to the point that he'll try to attack me thru the screen of their coop, and has started giving chase to some, including my elderly parents. Nobody in the family is willing to go near the coop anymore. The hens have been with us a little longer, and most of them are comfortable with me being around, but the roo is making it very difficult to get anything done. Even clearing my throat nearby seems to agitate him, and he lets out the buh-BAWK-buk-buk you mentioned in the book. This indicates to me that he's very high-strung. I can and do let them out each day. If he approaches the only thing I do is stand still until he moves on. Since the hens all trust me they come running when I arrive, but that also includes the roo, who flaps irritably and - if I turn my back - will take the opportunity. I bring treats in the afternoon which seems to chill him out for a little bit, but then it's right back to being cranky. At this point I don't feel like anything is working. One step forward, two steps back most days. The only thing that comes to mind as a large issue is the distance from the house to their coop, which is a couple minute walk from the house to my barn. I go there twice a day (sometimes more) and have been trying to spend 20 minutes with them each day, wearing proper clothing and being as consistent as possible. I'm just trying to figure out how to make some - any - progress so that he can stay with us. Is there a means to "start over" with him? Thanks in advance for any ideas.