Black Jersey Giants that are not friendly

[TheVicksChicks]

Hi, I’m a new chicken owner to 5 chickens of mixed breeds. I have 2 Black Jersey Giants, an Easter egger and 2 red Production Reds. They range between 16-18 weeks in age and have definitely created their pecking order. What I’m finding odd is my 2 Back Jerseys are not very nice or friendly at all, which is the opposite of what their breed usually is. My Alfa Jersey is board line aggressive towards me, she charges me when I come in, is very suspicious of me and will peck me if I try to pet her at all. Only my 2 Production Reds tolerate me and allow me to pet them (usually). My Easter Egger is lowest on pecking order and is scared of everything, especially me. I’ve tried sitting with them, giving treats, but my Jerseys always end up just pecking me a lot. Not sure if there is something I can do to stop this or make them like me, any help would be appreciated!

 

[AGeese]

Where did you get your BJG? Mine are the dominant birds of the flock and while they were nice as chicks they became bullies later on. They need their space on the roost, their food, and their water, everyone else can wait or be quick.

What kind of space do they have? Did you set up extra drinkers and feeders for the others?

 

[TheVicksChicks]

I got them from our local feed store, and they were all very scared chicks, none of them like to be handled. Their coop is a raised 4x3 “house” that’s 4 1/2 feet tall, I have 2 roosting bars of different heights and NONE of them roost on them. All all cram onto one section of the interior eves of the roof, I have a baby monitor I check on them with. I don’t know why the won’t use the roosting bars.

For food I have a 5 gallon bucket that i put 4 separate feeder holes into, same with water. I never see issue with food or water with them, they seem to eat and drink kindly with each other. Their run enclosed and is about a 6ft x 6ft area, with 3 roosting areas around it that they all use. They usually stick together outside, never obviously mean to each other, just not a fan of me.

 

[AGeese]

Mine would probably kill each other in a space that small, but mine are rather privileged.

 

[nuthatched]

Most chickens calm down after they start laying. Personalities are different for individuals birds.

 

[TheVicksChicks]

Most chickens calm down after they start laying. Personalities are different for individuals birds.

I hope so. I only find it so strange since both of my BJG are not friendly. The Alfa is even less friendly and slightly aggressive, but my other one also doesn’t like me, just isn’t as “mean”, she just avoids me and acts super scared of me all the time. Honestly, I just want them to like me lol

 

[rosemarythyme]

Most chickens calm down after they start laying. Personalities are different for individuals birds.

x2. Teenage birds are notorious for being more flighty and skittish. They'll revert to something closer to their chick temperaments once they reach point of lay.

Their coop is a raised 4x3 “house” that’s 4 1/2 feet tall, I have 2 roosting bars of different heights and NONE of them roost on them. All all cram onto one section of the interior eves of the roof, I have a baby monitor I check on them with. I don’t know why the won’t use the roosting bars.

Photos of your coop and roost set up would help with troubleshooting. Your coop is very tight on space for 5 birds once they grow up, especially with the 2 giants.

If I had to guess, your roost bars are likely very low or at least low enough to not be taller than the nests, which doesn't encourage the birds to use them. At 16-18 weeks if they weren't already roosting I would've started manually putting them on the roosts nightly until they got the hint.

Their run enclosed and is about a 6ft x 6ft area, with 3 roosting areas around it that they all use.

Unless you plan on free ranging all day you're going to want to expand that by quite a bit, it's nowhere near enough for 5 birds.

 

[TheVicksChicks]

x2. Teenage birds are notorious for being more flighty and skittish. They'll revert to something closer to their chick temperaments once they reach point of lay.

Photos of your coop and roost set up would help with troubleshooting. Your coop is very tight on space for 5 birds once they grow up, especially with the 2 giants.

If I had to guess, your roost bars are likely very low or at least low enough to not be taller than the nests, which doesn't encourage the birds to use them. At 16-18 weeks if they weren't already roosting I would've started manually putting them on the roosts nightly until they got the hint.

Unless you plan on free ranging all day you're going to want to expand that by quite a bit, it's nowhere near enough for 5 birds.

I will upload some pictures tomorrow. I did try to put them on the roosting bars, but only one of my chickens lets me hold her, and as soon as I got her up there she just jumped down. I was hoping they’d all just figure it out as they got bigger and sick of cramping next to each other. They also have an automatic chicken door, it opens at 5:15am and closes at 9. They come out the second it opens and put themselves back in around 8:30-45 before it shuts. But after they come out in the am, they NEVER go back in during the day. They hang out under the raised coop, as it is shaded and that is where their food and water are, are are in a very hot time right now; it’s been between 97-105 for almost 2 weeks, so I don’t blame them for staying out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I will upload some pictures tomorrow. I did try to put them on the roosting bars, but only one of my chickens lets me hold her, and as soon as I got her up there she just jumped down. I was hoping they’d all just figure it out as they got bigger and sick of cramping next to each other. They also have an automatic chicken door, it opens at 5:15am and closes at 9. They come out the second it opens and put themselves back in around 8:30-45 before it shuts.

Looking forward to photos. At least they're voluntarily returning to the coop at night, so that's good to know.

When you tried putting them on the roosts, did you do it when it was completely dark? Otherwise they'll just take turns bailing off.

They hang out under the raised coop, as it is shaded and that is where their food and water are, are are in a very hot time right now; it’s been between 97-105 for almost 2 weeks, so I don’t blame them for staying out.

Since you don't have general location listed, are those temperatures normal or abnormal for your area? Being that it's so hot, coop ventilation is something you want to address as well, unless you have an ample amount already.

 

[TheVicksChicks]

Ok so we are in eastern Washington, and these are not normal temps. I’ve lived here my entire life and never had this high of temperatures for so long. We usually get 1-3 days the entire summer of 100+ degrees, and maybe a combined total of a week of temps in upper 90’s.

I had my guessing measurements wrong on my coop, it is 3ft x 6ft (pics below), and the run is about 161 sq ft. I circled where the chickens all sleep, on those two eves and the one chicken picture is my most aggressive, she follows me everywhere to keep an eye on me. They usually hang out under the coop by the food, it stays the coolest down there.