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There is a pecking order among all breeds and varieties of chickens that is like the steps on a ladder. This pecking order applies to both males and females. The top male in a flock or group picks on ALL the males below him and the second male in line picks on all the remaining males below him etc. etc. The same pecking order exists with females in the same fashion. Once a pecking order has been established within a group or flock, there will be little if any fighting as every chicken knows his or her place within the order. If a new male or female is introduced into the flock, he or she must establish a position or place in the pecking order which usually means there will be some fighting between the new male or female and other members of the flock until a new order is determined.

So no, they cannot exactly live together without fighting. However, the fighting is rarely to the point of injury, much less death, unless the breed has been developed selectively for this trait, as fighting gamecocks have. It is not a tendency found in nature.

Most farmers will recommend keeping a ratio of at least seven to eight hens for every one rooster. Alternatively, there will be virtually no fighting if only roosters are kept, as there is no competition for mates.

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13y ago

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