9 week old polish are anti coop

[Xlynnex]

So our 9 week old polish pullets (hopefully though we question our golden) do not want to go into the coop at night. Our 14 week old Brahmas March right in like robots as soon as the sun is setting. The 2 polish came later and it took a few days for them to all get used to each other but now they mostly just ignore each other, the 3 Brahmas rule the roost (we have one cockerel and two pullets) but they don’t bother them too much. It seems like one polish would have liked to go into the coop and did so pretty well the first few nights but they stopped and when the Brahmas go in the take the top roost in the run and roost there as if they are set for the night then they fight me when I stick them in. We stuck a lower roosting perch lower for them and they still refuse to use it even when they are in. They lay on the shavings on the floor.

Does anyone have any ideas? We are at a loss, we we’re wondering if we are going to have to make some kind of a small coop inside the run for them alone to protect them from the elements. Here is a pic of the inside before the lower roost was in.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The size difference between your birds has to be a bit tough. What are the measurements of the coop? Since the photos don't include the new roost, where is it in relation to the current one?

 

[Xlynnex]

The size difference between your birds has to be a bit tough. What are the measurements of the coop? Since the photos don't include the new roost, where is it in relation to the current one?

I will take a pic tomorrow of the new roost, it’s lower and sort of in front of the other one.

 

[Xlynnex]

Here they are together

 

[rosemarythyme]

Roosting is a time for squabbles, so doesn't surprise me that they can get along outside, but argue over roost space inside (and apparently the Brahmas won on that). That's why I'm curious as to how much space you've got inside as well as location/proximity of roosts to one another.

 

[Xlynnex]

The size difference between your birds has to be a bit tough. What are the measurements of the coop? Since the photos don't include the new roost, where is it in relation to the current one?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Looks like the space just in front of the nest box is usable, the other side isn't mainly because it sits under where the birds on top would be pooping from.

Since it's hard to gauge from photos, what's the distance between those roosts? That is, if Brahmas are on top and Polish were on bottom, can the Brahmas reach down from the top roost to peck at the Polish on bottom? I have to assume there's no coop cam to be able to confirm that for sure, but my guess is the Polish are getting bullied onto the floor due to the confines of the coop.

 

[PurpleDaze]

Our Golden Polish has done the same thing. She was the only one not going in, we have a Buff polish as well who goes in with no problem. But, I realized that our Golden couldn't see well so I put a little rubber band in her comb so she could see. Once I did that she went in no problem. And when the hair tie breaks and we wait a few days to put in another one she will not go in the hen house without the hair tie. Our Buff is just now getting to where she can't see but still goes in just fine. Oh, before we used the hair tie should would sit on the bottom in a corner, but after she jumps up to the roosts.

Maybe, they feel they can't see the other chickens well and feel safer outside in a spot where they can see.

 

[aart]

Since it's hard to gauge from photos, what's the distance between those roosts?

That nest is about 16x16x20, so I doubt they can reach from upper roost to peck....but maybe.

 

[Xlynnex]

Our Golden Polish has done the same thing. She was the only one not going in, we have a Buff polish as well who goes in with no problem. But, I realized that our Golden couldn't see well so I put a little rubber band in her comb so she could see. Once I did that she went in no problem. And when the hair tie breaks and we wait a few days to put in another one she will not go in the hen house without the hair tie. Our Buff is just now getting to where she can't see but still goes in just fine. Oh, before we used the hair tie should would sit on the bottom in a corner, but after she jumps up to the roosts.

Maybe, they feel they can't see the other chickens well and feel safer outside in a spot where they can see.

That could be it, I wonder if they can’t see well. Does it hurt them to tie their head feathers back? I was wondering if I should do something about that, they def have a hard time seeing.