Black Jersey Giants that are not friendly

[The Coop Crew]

I will tell you my 12 week old chickens are also very flighty and don’t like to be handled but they aren’t mean. I blame it on them being teenagers

 

[rosemarythyme]

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.

Thanks for double checking on space, much better than what you originally thought!

Is the soffit open right by the eaves under the roof? Between the height of that ledge and ventilation (if there is indeed an open vent) I can see why that might appeal to them. If you don't want them up there some taut bird netting or chicken wire or garden fencing to block off eave access should get them down onto the roosts.

As far as the aggressive bird, has she always been pushy, even as a chick? While it's uncommon to have aggressive hens, they do exist... if she's really making things unpleasant for you, you might possibly consider rehoming her to someone who just wants a layer, not a pet + layer. I do have one hen that's noticeably more aggressive than the others but she normally doesn't actively go after me, she's just very annoyed right now because we added chicks this spring and I keep pushing her away from them. Once they reach point of lay her behavior should go back to normal.

 

[AGeese]

I'd be concerned about the heat in that coop at night. Are temps dropping over night? Mine like to have a commanding view so maybe that's why they go up there. Maybe you could raise one of those roosts or put up a high one long ways which would give them more room.

 

[TheVicksChicks]

Thanks for double checking on space, much better than what you originally thought!

Is the soffit open right by the eaves under the roof? Between the height of that ledge and ventilation (if there is indeed an open vent) I can see why that might appeal to them. If you don't want them up there some taut bird netting or chicken wire or garden fencing to block off eave access should get them down onto the roosts.

As far as the aggressive bird, has she always been pushy, even as a chick? While it's uncommon to have aggressive hens, they do exist... if she's really making things unpleasant for you, you might possibly consider rehoming her to someone who just wants a layer, not a pet + layer. I do have one hen that's noticeably more aggressive than the others but she normally doesn't actively go after me, she's just very annoyed right now because we added chicks this spring and I keep pushing her away from them. Once they reach point of lay her behavior should go back to normal.

Is it ok if they want to sleep up there? I just find it weird, but I don’t care if it’s ok.

As for my

I'd be concerned about the heat in that coop at night. Are temps dropping over night? Mine like to have a commanding view so maybe that's why they go up there. Maybe you could raise one of those roosts or put up a high one long ways which would give them more room.

the coop isn’t bad, it is not air tight, and I have a solar fan that runs all day, the temp is ok. Last night was our first night of temps in high 50’s, so we’re all happier now! Does it matter that they sleep up there? I don’t care, I just wasn’t sure if it was “normal” or ok for them to do. I could totally move it higher too, so I might try that, they just always seem to cram so tight together, seems uncomfortable.

 

[TheVicksChicks]

Thanks for double checking on space, much better than what you originally thought!

Is the soffit open right by the eaves under the roof? Between the height of that ledge and ventilation (if there is indeed an open vent) I can see why that might appeal to them. If you don't want them up there some taut bird netting or chicken wire or garden fencing to block off eave access should get them down onto the roosts.

As far as the aggressive bird, has she always been pushy, even as a chick? While it's uncommon to have aggressive hens, they do exist... if she's really making things unpleasant for you, you might possibly consider rehoming her to someone who just wants a layer, not a pet + layer. I do have one hen that's noticeably more aggressive than the others but she normally doesn't actively go after me, she's just very annoyed right now because we added chicks this spring and I keep pushing her away from them. Once they reach point of lay her behavior should go back to normal.

I accidentally posted before I finished!

As for my BJG girls, they’ve always been scared, but not mean or aggressive, that is newer. My Alfa doesn’t scare me, it’s more annoying. I just want to know what both of them don’t like me and the one likes to peck at me if I get close. Everything I’ve read about their breed says they’re docile and sweet and love to cuddle, which makes me wonder what I’ve done to have 2 that are not like that at all. I essentially want egg hens, just was hoping we could be friends too, so I probably won’t get rid of her. I’ll wait and see how she adjust after she starts to lay, which I read can take even longer for her breed

 

[rosemarythyme]

Does it matter that they sleep up there? I don’t care, I just wasn’t sure if it was “normal” or ok for them to do. I could totally move it higher too, so I might try that, they just always seem to cram so tight together, seems uncomfortable.

Yeah if you don't mind, they can sleep up there. I wouldn't deliberately move the roosts higher though, you don't really have the headroom for it and as the birds get bigger your giant breeds will likely favor lower roosts as they can struggle to get up and down due to size.

My Alfa doesn’t scare me, it’s more annoying. I just want to know what both of them don’t like me and the one likes to peck at me if I get close. Everything I’ve read about their breed says they’re docile and sweet and love to cuddle, which makes me wonder what I’ve done to have 2 that are not like that at all.

Some birds are just more aggressive or more pushy, no matter what their breed profile says.

Now I'm no expert on giant breeds at all but I'm wondering if you actually don't have a BJG, since the black bird in the photos looks smaller than the others which I assume are roughly the same age? I know giants grow slower but I would think by this age they should be as large as, or larger than, other breeds of the same age. But again I have no experience with them.

 

[AGeese]

Agreed they can sleep where they like if the mess doesn't become an issue. I got my two from Meyer Hatchery, as chicks they were exactly as described, gentle giants, it was one of my Buckeyes that was a beast. As the Jersey's grew I started to wonder if I got Black Australorps. They're around 6 lbs and fully grown so not exactly the largest, but they've got big egos.

 

[LaFleche]

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.

The upper roosting bar appears to be too close to the wall for the birds to roost comfortably and in your picture the right side seems lower than the other.

The black pullet in your picture does not look like a Jersey Giant to me.
There might have been a mix up with the chicks as often happens in farm stores, which would also explain her behaviour.