So there are 3 stairstepped roosts, 36", 46" and 56" off the floor, each 8' long, and a 6" wide 9' long windowsill about 10" off the floor--a total of 33 FEET of roost space for 24 6 week olds! You would imagine they'd have so much space, so many options, but all they do is FIGHT--and it gets PUSHY!! And I never thought they'd venture up to the top roost when they're still so young, but now I know who's at the very top of the pecking order--it's Checkers, the BR Roo, another enormous BR, 2 or 3 Black Australorps, and a few BOs--all the biggies, but they're not pushy and rude.
There are 2 roosters--Abe Lincoln, the NH Red, rules the windowsill and Checkers, the BR, rules the highest roost! There are 8 or so who roost up high, and they push and shove to get to the way way east end of it, and all cram together, shoving and nudging, and it looks as if one might flop off the end any moment. They are pretty still once they get situated, just a little wiggle or scooch once in a while...it's the other weirdos on the windowsill I'm worried about...
The other bunch crowds at the east end of the windowsill, and they are violent about getting the coveted spots, beating each other with their wings, jumping up on top of the others, knocking each other off, standing on one another's heads, all to get next to Abe Lincoln, who wedges himself at the end! I'm afraid someone will be smashed or injured, and they go on like this for an hour!!! I know there's some social order in this process, but there don't seem to be any rules other than every chick for herself!!! See here what it looks like, with one of my EEs who just flew up, landed on the others' backs, fell through the crowd, and then slapped them around with her wings!!
And meanwhile, it's SOOOO hot, and I don't know why on earth they want to be all smooshed up and fussing like they do...is this normal???
There are 2 roosters--Abe Lincoln, the NH Red, rules the windowsill and Checkers, the BR, rules the highest roost! There are 8 or so who roost up high, and they push and shove to get to the way way east end of it, and all cram together, shoving and nudging, and it looks as if one might flop off the end any moment. They are pretty still once they get situated, just a little wiggle or scooch once in a while...it's the other weirdos on the windowsill I'm worried about...
The other bunch crowds at the east end of the windowsill, and they are violent about getting the coveted spots, beating each other with their wings, jumping up on top of the others, knocking each other off, standing on one another's heads, all to get next to Abe Lincoln, who wedges himself at the end! I'm afraid someone will be smashed or injured, and they go on like this for an hour!!! I know there's some social order in this process, but there don't seem to be any rules other than every chick for herself!!! See here what it looks like, with one of my EEs who just flew up, landed on the others' backs, fell through the crowd, and then slapped them around with her wings!!
And meanwhile, it's SOOOO hot, and I don't know why on earth they want to be all smooshed up and fussing like they do...is this normal???
