How do you reconcile timid birds with the flock?

[aart]

The cockerel is NOT a bully by any means, but he's not trying to mate anyone else yet.

Well, I meant if his attentions are the main reason the Ams are hiding....he could be isolated.

You could use the run partition to do some chicken juggling, mix and match who is there and who is in the main run/coop, breaks up the territoriality a bit.

 

[Firefoot]

Well, I meant if his attentions are the main reason the Ams are hiding....he could be isolated.

You could use the run partition to do some chicken juggling, mix and match who is there and who is in the main run/coop, breaks up the territoriality a bit.

Yeah, I don't know if he is why they are hiding. I mean, chicken rape looks pretty traumatizing, but they're skittish of the big girls, too, so it's probably multiple factors. I will do some juggling -- especially putting the roo with the big girls. Maybe if he starts asserting dominance over them, there will be more peace among the all the girls.

I just went out and made a low platform with two sides for them to go under or on top of, and it gives them easier access to one of the big branches. I also leaned some pallets along the walls and broke up the line of the door a bit, and added a couple upside down chairs. While the others were on the other side of the yard dust bathing, I picked the Am's up and brought them into the run with some sunflower seeds and scratch. They seemed pretty happy about that. I'll work on adding some more things and making their environment more dynamic.

Thank you for all the suggestions! Who ever said chickens don't have personalities? Geez louise.