All My Chickens..... a coop opera!

[WhoDatChick]

They're probably just fighting over the choice roosting spots.

They'll get it sorted! Try not to watch!

Seriously though… I really can’t watch! If I’m in there too long some of them get a spanking

 

[drstratton]

WHEN will they get it sorted?! This has been going on for 7 years…. at my house! But I’m sure it’s been going on since the beginning of time
I feel like I need a better explanation than “choice spot”! ALL the spots are the same… ALLL of them!!!

I will reiterate... don't watch! There's no reason to torture yourself. Those girls are going to do what they want, despite our best efforts...lol

 

[WhoDatChick]

I will reiterate... don't watch! There's no reason to torture yourself. Those girls are going to do what they want, despite our best efforts...lol

This is so true! I really do torture myself

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Yes! I think you are right!

But I do have a question I am hoping someone can answer! Does anyone know why the heck these crazy chickens feel the need to beat the crap out of each other a roosting time?! It drives me positively insane Like I cannot even be in there cuz I get so frustrated with them! What is that even?!?!

CHICKENS BE CRAZYYYYYYY!! Fa reallll!!!

Our neighbor in back (the one with the screaming three-year-old and large Barky McBarkBark) made a snide little dig about chicken noise, and I’ll bet it’s from the Morning Nest-Box Drama.

If it were just the girls singing the song of their people when they had laid, it wouldn’t be so bad.

But we’ve got the operatic arias about:

• She’s in MY box! That’s MY box!
• She’s been in there forever!
• They’re in the coop, so I can’t go in! (referring to the Littles, now 16 and 14 weeks)
• They’re looking at me! (again, the Littles, who are fascinated)
• While I was screaming at the Littles, <insert name> went in my box! That’s MY box!

And on and on.

And Lord help us, this is when the Barred Rock isn’t broody. Otherwise, they have finally integrated and the remaining 20 hours of the day go smoothly.

 

[cavemanrich]

Yes! I think you are right!

But I do have a question I am hoping someone can answer! Does anyone know why the heck these crazy chickens feel the need to beat the crap out of each other a roosting time?! It drives me positively insane Like I cannot even be in there cuz I get so frustrated with them! What is that even?!?!

CHICKENS BE CRAZYYYYYYY!! Fa reallll!!!

I would turn to a Super Soaker, as a training tool.
When the aggressor gets a squirt, and has no idea where it came from,,,,, Aggressor makes assumption that the chicken that it is trying to bully has fight back capabilities.
I have used such to quell bullying behavior with success.
Another thing you can do is install partitions on the roost bar. Believe me... It WORKS.

 

[MaryJanet]

Like I cannot even be in there cuz I get so frustrated with them!

I am exactly the same when there are new chooks in the flock!! I can't watch, so I go away until it's done.

That said, they usually do settle into a routine after six months or so.

 

[WhoDatChick]

I would turn to a Super Soaker, as a training tool.
When the aggressor gets a squirt, and has no idea where it came from,,,,, Aggressor makes assumption that the chicken that it is trying to bully has fight back capabilities.
I have used such to quell bullying behavior with success.
Another thing you can do is install partitions on the roost bar. Believe me... It WORKS.

I love the soaker idea!! Def trying that!!
I had wire down the middle of the roosts in hopes the littles stay on their side and the older ones on theirs but one or two of the littles kept getting trapped on the bigs side so I removed it!

 

[WhoDatChick]

I am exactly the same when there are new chooks in the flock!! I can't watch, so I go away until it's done.

That said, they usually do settle into a routine after six months or so.

Well my chickens are broken then! I have old ones in a different coop and they all do it too!
That’s who really made me mad yesterday because Daisy was relentlessly pecking Maryn!! How dare she touch the queen… in my presence!? Maryn has always been on top but she is old and frail so she is no longer and doesn’t fight back at all…

 

[WhoDatChick]

Well, looks like my precious Snickers is a boy
I don’t keep roosters and since I have had a potential Mycoplasma outbreak I can no longer rehome anything from here

 

[WhoDatChick]

I should have happy news to share by the weekend! Maybe that’ll turn the tide and all will be well again