Boys and girls living together?

[OverWyreGrower]

My new cockerels are currently living seperately from the rest of my flock (5 hens, 3 drakes and 3 ducks) but I'm of a mind to put them together...

However, I'm unsure about whether the cockerels (who are about 11/12 weeks old) would fight each other for the girls (who are all over a year old), even though they are so young?

Any ideas?

[Polly Fouracre]

They may"spar" a bit but wouldn't fight seriously until they mature and maybe not even then.

[Hilary B]

They may"spar" a bit but wouldn't fight seriously until they mature and maybe not even then.

If they are going to fight, having the girls in the same pen, rather than next door, is probably irrelevant. The only way it could make a difference would be if the girls were so far away the boys didn't know about them (which is probably not possible).

[MaureenHall]

I had Rowan and Basil together in the same run and coop with 8 "laydeez" until Rowan was about 24weeks. They didn't fight really, just sparred a bit occasionally when Rowan wanted to "have a go" with one of the girls . I only separated them because I didn't really want Wellie crosses at this stage, plus the coop was getting a bit overcrowded

[OverWyreGrower]

Well, we'll probably only have the boys for another 8 weeks or so, so they won't get to 24 weeks... Maybe this weekend I'll put them in with the others and see how they fair. I can always seperate them back out I guess...

[frias]

My three 9 week old cocks are in with the ladies and get a bit hen pecked really. They spar a bit amongst themselves but nothing serious. It's just like puppies play fighting.