Why We Keep a Bachelor Flock of Roosters

If you’ve ever raised chickens, you probably know the dilemma: what do you do with the roosters? Most people want hens for eggs, but roosters… not so much. They’re often abandoned because they’re noisy, sometimes aggressive, and if you have too many of them in a flock with hens, they’ll overbreed and stress the girls out.

That’s how we ended up with a bachelor flock of roosters.

Why a Bachelor Flock?

Roosters get a bad rap, but it isn’t their fault. They’re wired to protect, to crow, to spar, and to do all the things roosters do. But when you only have one or two hens and a handful of roosters, the balance is all wrong. Instead of harmony, you get chaos.

Most backyard chicken keepers don’t have the space or the patience for extra roosters, so they give them up. Shelters and rescues are full of unwanted roosters. That’s where we come in. Instead of letting them be abandoned, we give them a space of their own. No hens, no stress. Just roosters being roosters.

Meet the Rooster Boys

Our bachelor flock is full of personality.

• Carl the Orpington — Carl is the undisputed king of the flock. Big, broad, and calm, he carries himself like royalty. No matter how many squabbles break out, Carl is the one who struts away with dignity.
• Spoon the Silver Wyandotte — Spoon desperately wants Carl’s job. He puffs up, he struts, he crows louder than anyone else. But deep down, we all know he’s never going to beat out Carl. Still, his persistence makes him one of the most entertaining birds in the yard.
• Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr — Our two Americauna roosters are endlessly hilarious. They bicker, they chase each other, and yes — we did name them after those Hamilton and Burr. Luckily, their rivalry is more comic relief than deadly duel.
• Lloyd — a New Jersey Giant with an attitude as big as h is. He's top dog in their enclosure, and if he was allowed to free range, he would give Carl a run for his money!
• The Bantam Brigade — Most of our bantam roosters came from the SPCA, and while they’re tiny, they don’t know it. These little guys have the biggest personalities, and watching them square up to birds twice their size never fails to make us laugh.

Each rooster has his own quirks, and together they make a surprisingly cohesive (if sometimes noisy) community.

Can You Really Keep Roosters Together?

This is one of the big questions people ask: Can you keep roosters together without hens? The answer is yes — with the right setup.

We keep our bachelor flock of roosters in their own enclosure, separate from the hens. We call it "The Monastery." This way, they’re not competing for mates, and tensions stay much lower. Without hens to fight over, most roosters will establish a hierarchy and then coexist surprisingly well.

That doesn’t mean it’s always peaceful. Spoon is still determined to unseat Carl, and little skirmishes happen now and then. But with plenty of space, resources, and no hens around, the flock stays stable.

If you’re thinking about keeping a bachelor flock, here are some tips that have worked for us:

• Separate them from hens. This is the single most important factor. Without hens, the boys calm down a lot.
• Space matters. Give them enough room to spread out and avoid one another if needed.
• Watch personalities. Some roosters are just too aggressive, but many adapt well to bachelor life.
• Provide plenty of food and water. Less competition means fewer fights.
• Expect noise. A group of roosters means a chorus of crows — so make sure your town allows roosters.

Why It Matters

Keeping a bachelor flock of roosters is our way of saying these birds matter too. They’re not just “extras” or “leftovers.” They’re living, breathing creatures with personalities, rivalries, and friendships.

Most people don’t want roosters, but that doesn’t mean roosters don’t deserve a safe place to live. By giving them space, we make sure they can live out their lives without being abandoned, abused, or worse.

And honestly? They make life a lot more interesting. Between Carl’s calm leadership, Spoon’s endless ambition, Hamilton and Burr’s comic bickering, and the bantams strutting like they own the world, there’s never a dull moment in the bachelor flock.

Having too many roosters is a problem a lot of backyard chicken keepers run into. But for us, it’s also an opportunity. Because when you bring them together in the right way, a bunch of unwanted roosters turns into a quirky, lively, and surprisingly joyful flock.