Extreme Flocking Behaviour

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FeatherLace

FeatherLace

Songster
Apr 7, 2020
375
466
166
Waycross, Georgia
So I have twelve chickens, all of which are SUPER attached to each other. Like I've never seen a single chicken get more than 2 feet away from the others. They roost in one big pile, forage in the exact same spots, and I just CANNOT get them to free range. I've even tried just leaving the door to the coop open and setting their food dish a couple feet out of the coop. If I pick one up and set it out of the coop, it IMMEDIATLY runs back to the others, like, no hesitation. Even the roosters won't leave each other. My last batch of chickens I had would separate from each other as long as they could hear and see each other, sometimes in pairs or alone, but not in one group. My current chickens, they'll even stop mid-chase of a bug if they get more than a couple feet away from the others.

Knowing of chickens and their flocking behavior, my brain tells me this is normal since they were all raised together since day one.

But something tells me I should ask, is this normal?
If not, any advice?
Does it just depend on the chickens? (What I'm thinking it is)

And I'd like to know how you guys' chickens act too! Are they aloof? Super attached to each other? Hate each other?

Thanks!
 
Sounds pretty typical to me.
Do you have a run?
Are there places they can 'hide' nearby...or is it just wide open space?
 
I'm having a similar problem with my new flock... and older girls. They have been in the same building and could see each other. There are 13 that are 10 weeks and 4 - 3 yr olds. When I open the door for them to mingle, they wont have anything to do with one another. I couldnt even get the younger ones in the run without moving them like cattle they were so stuck together! Nobody wants separated from their group. It's frustrating! So, I'm just leaving the doors open, let them do what they want. They have a run, and also tunnels to a grazing pen/tractor..... go... come... whatever :) At least no one is fighting! The older want nothing to do with the littles... and vice versa. Oh well!

They will get it! Eventually.....LOL
 
aart said:
Sounds pretty typical to me.
Do you have a run?
Are there places they can 'hide' nearby...or is it just wide open space?
Click to expand...
Well their permanent coop/run is in progress, my mom got surgery before she could help me finish it so they are in a little makeshift thing right now. Its a triangle shaped set of pvc pipes cover on all sides with chicken wire, its about 8 foot long, 6 foot tall, and 4 foot wide, which is where they forage around and roost on branches and things I stuck through it, and they have a little doghouse in the corner where they go if it rains, etc. I move it every two or three days to a different spot in the yard, so they're familiar with almost every part of the yard now, but they still won't leave the coop. And the yard around them is surrounded by trees on nearly every side, with lots of berry bushes, etc
 
They maybe just feel safe. Eventually, they will feel safe to go out, I'm sure. Give them time :) Right now, they dont need to leave, you move them around. You are giving them what they would go out looking for.
 

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