Wow. Even though mine start drama, they all manage to get on the roosts. When our 3 chicks were getting into the flock, they sometimes slept in the boxes.
tonight the 2 NH Reds were still on the floor, the 2 Rocks at one end of the roost, 2 EEs on the other end of the roost pole, and the one I thought my dominant EE, maybe layer sitting on the barrel outside. I set her in the main coop and shut all the doors, first night all 7 are shut in the interior 'safe' coop. Guess I better get out there early in the morning.
Dang they must not like to sleep together that much. Glad no predators took advantage of the chickens being separated like that.
Even their outside play yard is pretty secure and covered, the only predators we worry about here are hawks and owls and they can't get to them. The farm dog keeps other stuff away. The first 4 came here in April the other 3 just got here 10 days ago. They are ever changing. I now have 2 that will 'squat' and one laid an egg yesterday, first egg!!
That's good. Same here, though only one hawk has strafed two hens and the owls that settled in our yard are smaller than the hens so they pose no threat. We have to watch 2 of our 3 dogs. We added 3 to our flock of 5 almost a year ago so they had to bond over the summer. That's why they're scattered because there are newbies. As frustrating as it is, it'll workout as long as no one gets hurt. Even though ours have drama when it's time to go to bed, they'll sit together during the day.
I have bird netting over their whole yard, I really appreciate and thank you for your input, so hard to get good responses to my questions. It's been 40 years since i had 4 'rescue' elder hens and all this integrating young pullets and waiting on eggs is new.
