Pecking order and roosting at night question

I had an existing flock of four hens that had a well established pecking order: The WR was boss, followed by BR Daisy, then BR Pearl and at the bottom was our EE. Even though the EE was at the bottom, she buddied up with the WR boss and they foraged together during the day and roosted together at night. All was peaceful. A few months ago I introduced 3 cochins, they are now 20 weeks old. The 7 went through your typical pecking order rituals and all 3 cochins are currently at the bottom of the order. During the day, all is fine, but when it comes to roosting at night, we have run into some issues: The BR Pearl (who has always been a bully in my opinion) now wants to roost next to the WR and refuses to let the EE roost there. The EE tries to roost next to the other BR, but is usually harassed until she goes into what we call the dog house (and addition to our coop that used to be a dog house). This wouldn't be a problem, but that is where the cochins would like to roost. Although there is plenty of room in the dog house, the cochins refuse to enter when the EE is there. The cochins end up either roosting in the run or crammed in the pop door doorway.

So, here is my question....how much do I intervene? I really don't want them sleeping in the doorway or the run. When I go out there at night, I can sometimes get the EE to move and because it's dark she can get on the roost next to the other BR, but last night she ended up sleeping in a nest box. Will the cochins eventually learn to go in the doghouse with the EE? This has been going on for about a month now.

Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you!

I'll tell you, I have some chickens that have been together now for years. And just about every night, it almost sounds like a battle out there. You have some, that just HAVE to sit next to their buddy. But of course, she's the popular one, that half a dozen more want to roost next to. They eventually settle down, but there is usually a lot of crying and squalking going on. And there is no shortage of roost space. I have three 2X4" bars 8' long out there.
That may be something you could do, is add more roost space, if you can. But that's the way they are,(At least mine anyways) for whatever reason. No problems at all for the rest of the day, but a lot of drama come roost time.

Thanks! I have thought about moving roosts around, but the only place I have to add more in the doghouse section. Tonight just like every night for the past month, the EE is roosting unhappily in huge space, while the three not so small cochins in crammed together in the doorway with the three others roosting above them. so much drama!!

LCEchickens said:

Thanks!  I have thought about moving roosts around, but the only place I have to add more in the doghouse section.  Tonight just like every night for the past month, the EE is roosting unhappily in huge space, while the three not so small cochins in crammed together in the doorway with the three others roosting above them.    so much drama!!

Click to expand...

Lol
My husband inadvertently left a branch on the limb he used for our top roost, which forms a sort of T, which seems really popular. More of them can be close together and it gives one a place to back onto instead of having to get down if they start fussing. They sometimes use it to huddle around the rooster. Maybe you can try something like that. It wasn't planned but we left it that way cuz they like it.

Ditto JackE's assessment.

Do you have at least 1 foot of roost for each bird in the safe enclosed coop??
Having plenty room will not stop the squabbling but its all you can do to 'intervene', the rest is up to them.
If they don't have enough space, it's on the keeper to provide an adequate environment.