Bullying in coop at night

[metcarl]

I have a flock of 6 currently. Three originals who are about a year and 1/2 old. A BCM almost a year old who was introduced about 6 mths ago. She was introduced by herself so had a hard time integrating at first. There are two younger pullets (25 and 28 weeks old) that have been with the rest of the girls for several months. I have been letting the two younger ones sleep in the nest boxes because that is where they huddle together away from the others. I’m wanting to get them out of the nest boxes so locked them off tonight. When I tried to put them on the roosts, the other chickens start pecking at them. There should be enough room because there are two separate roosts. Tonight, all 4 of the older hens were huddled on the front roost. When kicking the younger two out of the nests, everyone got stirred up and rearranged a bit. However, all 4 of the older hens pecked at the younger ones as they tried to roost.

During the day, they get along relatively well. The younger ones mostly stay out of everyone’s way. They eat together and there’s just mild pecking. Not like what I’m seeing at night.

 

[Teila]

Hey metcarl

I have a small flock of 5, two of which are 5 years old and have been together for 5 years and the newest has been in the flock for 3 years and they still bicker, squabble and shuffle every night at roost time!

As long as no-one is getting hurt to the point of blood being drawn, you should be OK leaving them to their own devices and learn that regardless of what you do, even if they have a tonne of room, they will probably still bicker at bed time

 

[cavemanrich]

Pecking order is something that cant be avoided. If you want to discourage the 2 younger ones from sleeping in nest box, then close it off. Then place them on the floor and leave. Eventually they will get enough courage to sit on the roost. Let them get there by themselves. Slight pecking is just natural. It is only serious when injury and blood present occurs.
I personally would close off nest box and provide a temporary roost near the nest box level. Chickens will strive to get to the higher level naturally. When time is right , they will.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,, and

 

[TexasSam]

Do you leave a light on in the coop or just outside

 

[metcarl]

Do you leave a light on in the coop or just outside

Not a light on in the coop, but there is ambient light from living in a neighborhood and from outdoor lights on our house. Is it better with or without light? They seemed annoyed by my flashlight

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Greetings metcarl,

Yes, there's usually a rumble in the coop when newbies come in. Even if you sneak them in at the middle of the night, there will still be some dues to be paid!

But, I have found that adding another roost for the newbies usually solves the problem. It did for my flock, till my most recent addition of pullets.

You know, it simply isn't proper for the queen and princesses to cavort with those lowly newbies! LOL!

Another solution, is to switch narrow perches to 1" X 5" planks, then buy some shelf dividers. Insert them between the warring factions, and voila', peace in the kingdom.

Planks are so much more comfortable on those tired feet, too. I have three different groups and a huge rooster all roosting and sleeping together, but separated by these dividers!

Here is what I am using.

Hope this was helpful, if not humorous!

God Bless

 

[aart]

It's the RoostTimeRumble!
Happens in almost every coop almost every night,
no matter how long the birds have lived together.
Not always strictly the pecking order, but just what chickens do.
Block the nests, let them work it out.

I block nests every year when I have new chicks to 'force' them to roost.
Cover nests an hour before roost time, uncover well after dark when I lock up(so I don't have to go out at first light to uncover). I have 4 separate roosts.
One year it took two months, so I hinged the cover for easier operation, last year the 6-8wo chicks were roosting on the main roost after two days. Brave little buggers!

Open.

Closed.

 

[TexasSam]

Not a light on in the coop, but there is ambient light from living in a neighborhood and from outdoor lights on our house. Is it better with or without light? They seemed annoyed by my flashlight

If it is dark they won't be bullying each other

 

[SueT]

Here's a thread that discusses making roost dividers to prevent roost wars....
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/removed-a-hen-from-the-coop.1210731/