Chicken Pecking

[rosemarythyme]

We have 10 chickens total and the runs they can go between are 4 × 8 and 4 x 12. We do give them some free range time but we have too many loose dogs coming through the area that we can't do it all the time. I am hoping to add some more space but haven't had the chance yet. The bullying is happening in the little ones coop. I recently did add another door so that they have another escape route and don't get stuck in a corner there. It seems to have helped a little. I i is it a problem that they are in two coops? Does that make it like a new introduction each day that causes extra drama? The other chickens seem to have mixed just fine and they go happily between all the areas. Should I just close the door and keep them separated until I have a bigger space for them completed? Should I just always keep them separate? Thanks!

The runs are too small for the number of birds - the recommended minimum for 10 would be 100 sq ft, for a well integrated flock. Adding new birds requires additional room. Also too narrow for integration because birds can't safely pass by one another without a lower ranked bird "offending" a dominant bird.

Occasional free range isn't enough to make up for a small run.

You also didn't mention how large the coops are. Some flocks have no issue using multiple coops while others end up trying to stuff into one space that's way too small for all of them.