This is a common problem at this stage in the game. What was enough space when the birds were smaller, becomes not enough space when the birds become bigger.
Also as winter come on (I am assuming that you are in this hemisphere) the days become shorter, and the nights become longer. The birds are on the roost longer and longer. In late December, mine are roosting up around 5:00 pm and not getting down until 7:00 am. So even if you are free ranging, they are still spending 14 hours confined to the roost due to darkness.
I had a couple of broody hens hatch out chicks in July, by the end of August, I could feel the tension rising in the coop/run. When I moved them to a much bigger set up, pulled the rooster chicks and left them in the original set up, it was amazing how the tension went away.
There are two ways of managing space, either make the set up bigger, or reduce the number of birds. 5-6 month birds should be at the point of lay, and I am thinking you could get $15-20 per head. Even removing 1 or 2 will make quite a difference.
Mrs K
