Didnt realize they fight.....

[helloroe]

I have 9 "newbies" that go in an hour before anyone else to get a good roosting spot otherwise the older bigger girls have blocked the ramp and the newbies end up on the floor. 2 always sleep in nesting boxes, one on top of the injured cage, two in seperate windows, one on the ramp and the "guard" by the door to alert if anyone comes close. She has quite the hollar on her.

 

[ams3651]

Quote:
thats funny, I was outside yesterday when my Schwan man came and someone was putting up such a fuss, she was nearly honking. He looked and laughed. He asked what that ment and I told him it usually means, "get the he** out of my way"

 

[Thousand Oaks Family]

Yup. I always hear them shuffling for the "best" spot. Whatever that is. Any help on what kind I have?

 

[gritsar]

Oh my goodness, roost fights are a nightly routine around here. By the way, I've noticed that when one is crawling under the other what they are really doing is trying to knock that bird off the roost. I referee the fights most every night, unless I'm in a big hurry and have to let them sort it out themselves. My half blind hen Lil' Bit waits by the door for me to put her on a roost each night (her peripheral vision sucks). I always put her right next to my roo for protection. I let my lowest ranking member roost on the cross bar between the nestboxes so she won't be harrassed too much.
My roo will break up hen fights during the day - I'm talking knock down, drag out fights - but at night he just tries to stay out of the way of all the mayhem.

 

[elmo]

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You might want to keep a closer eye on her than usual for a couple of days to watch for illness. Sometimes when a bird suddenly goes down in the pecking order it's because they're getting sick and the other birds notice it and capitalize on it.

A round of bullying directed at one hen was my first sign that she was coming down with fowl pox last fall.

 

[happyhens44]

Normal, I saw that every night when mine go to roost they are in the exact same spot.

 

[SmittenChicken]

Quote:
You might want to keep a closer eye on her than usual for a couple of days to watch for illness. Sometimes when a bird suddenly goes down in the pecking order it's because they're getting sick and the other birds notice it and capitalize on it.

A round of bullying directed at one hen was my first sign that she was coming down with fowl pox last fall.

Thanks for this - I was a little worried too, and then last night the Sussex in question was back on the "cool" roost in her normal spot. Maybe she was just reaching across party lines?