I recently finished my chicken's new coup (14x8 run, 3x2x6 sleeping area/nest box) and yesterday I moved my 4 girls in. Last evening it was pretty uneventful. I did have to move them in to bed, but they seemed to be having a fun time exploring their new digs. This morning, things were okay, they took their time coming down the ramp to get breakfast, and one of my girls (who is by far the least bothered) even walked on in and laid her egg.
Buuut two of my girls, Mae and Flo, are being incredibly dramatic.
I never have fights but Mae decided to pick a fight with Queenie, got her comb all banged up. Mae's super possessive over her coup area, so I don't know if she's just trying to establish home base again by constantly going in and out to kick shavings around/scream.
Flo has a really hard time establishing an egg laying rhythm, so she's been pacing at the end of the run where she can see the old coop, in the rain, most of the last two hours. I hung up old towels to create a visual barrier. I'm worried about her trying to avoid laying her egg.
And then there's also the general issue about them having an obvious place to go out of the rain, but not using it. There's shelter under the coup. There's pretty much a long bench they could roost on under there, and then space. But I ended up having to move a plastic table out for them to go under because they can't seem to figure it out. I'm going to pick up a tarp to put over the wire roof until dryer weather comes, because I'm worried they'll never figure out where to go.
I've read that they should settle within a few days so, is this probably just the awkward adjustment period? Do they need to reestablish their order? As I speak, Mae and Flo are yelling in unison and I feel so bad for everything with ears that has to hear them right now.
Buuut two of my girls, Mae and Flo, are being incredibly dramatic.
I never have fights but Mae decided to pick a fight with Queenie, got her comb all banged up. Mae's super possessive over her coup area, so I don't know if she's just trying to establish home base again by constantly going in and out to kick shavings around/scream.
Flo has a really hard time establishing an egg laying rhythm, so she's been pacing at the end of the run where she can see the old coop, in the rain, most of the last two hours. I hung up old towels to create a visual barrier. I'm worried about her trying to avoid laying her egg.
And then there's also the general issue about them having an obvious place to go out of the rain, but not using it. There's shelter under the coup. There's pretty much a long bench they could roost on under there, and then space. But I ended up having to move a plastic table out for them to go under because they can't seem to figure it out. I'm going to pick up a tarp to put over the wire roof until dryer weather comes, because I'm worried they'll never figure out where to go.
I've read that they should settle within a few days so, is this probably just the awkward adjustment period? Do they need to reestablish their order? As I speak, Mae and Flo are yelling in unison and I feel so bad for everything with ears that has to hear them right now.