Help!

[pennyJo1960]

the coop looks rather small for more than 1 or 2 birds that may be your issue

 

[bobbi-j]

If I understand your first post correctly, you have 9 chickens? Some adults and some juveniles? If that is the case, I think your coop and run may be a bit small for them. I didn't see any places where the younger ones could hide from the larger ones, either. That can be a helpful thing. In chicken society, a dominant chicken will pick on a younger or less dominant bird to show them "their place". If that other bird can't get far enough away, the dominant one feels it's being "disrespected" so to speak. (I don't know if birds can really understand respect, but they do know the pecking order.) In that case, the dominant bird is going to keep trying to teach the other one a lesson. It will continue until the other one can get away.

 

[TexasSam]

If I understand your first post correctly, you have 9 chickens? Some adults and some juveniles? If that is the case, I think your coop and run may be a bit small for them. I didn't see any places where the younger ones could hide from the larger ones, either. That can be a helpful thing. In chicken society, a dominant chicken will pick on a younger or less dominant bird to show them "their place". If that other bird can't get far enough away, the dominant one feels it's being "disrespected" so to speak. (I don't know if birds can really understand respect, but they do know the pecking order.) In that case, the dominant bird is going to keep trying to teach the other one a lesson. It will continue until the other one can get away.

The coop is fine for 8 or 9 hens as long as there are plenty of places for them to roost. My biggest suggestion would be to let them range all day if possible do you have A rooster? Is your yard fenced in? The only reason I'm saying is the coop is fine in size the run may be a little small. Like bobbi-j was saying hiding spots some roost in the run and make a spot under the coop big enough for the small pullets to fit in but not to far that you can't reach them if they decide to not come out. This can be done by closing off the border of the coop. Then dig out A little trench under the coop

 

[Anna and The Girls]

Ok, thank you so much!

 

[Anna and The Girls]

We do not have a roster and our yard is not fenced in.

 

[Anna and The Girls]

How big should the run and coop be?

 

[Lavender Ro]

I would try the fence method, that has worked for me. Also if that for some reason doesn't work try taking the bully out and see how the younger one does with the others.

 

[Anna and The Girls]

Should I try the fence method again? We did that over the summer, would it help if we did it again?

 

[TexasSam]

Should I try the fence method again? We did that over the summer, would it help if we did it again?

I would see how everyone gets along without the bully

 

[Anna and The Girls]

Okay, thank you. The thing is that they are all kind of bullies to the chicks. Their are two rode Island Reds that are meaner than the rest.