How long?

[Driley62]

So I integrated 9 new young birds to the flock. There was little to no violence(only ended up with one injured but I think that bird was after a bug and broke her beak then the others went after her a tad after the fact). After she got hurt she got admin segregated to the "old" coop that will now be the broody/sick bay(whichever is needed at the time) for about a week and now has been reintroduced.

Odd thing is...out of the 9 she's the only one to jump on the roost. The other 8 are huddled in the corner.

Got a couple questions:

1) How come the others won't go on the roost? I know it's not the end of the world really...just find it puzzling considering its in their instinct to do so.

2) even though they're pretty much integrated, why does it seem like they're the jocks and the nerdy kids in school...in different areas not interacting? I know in time they eventually will, I'm curious to how long that will be before I see them all outside. Because the new girls I haven't seen outside nearly at all and the older girls are always outside as long as the door is open.

 

[3KillerBs]

It often takes young chickens a while to get in the habit of roosting. My Splits as just starting to roost now at 12 weeks. I actually have 2 floor sleepers in the adults -- a Light Brahma who may not be able to get up there with limited flying space (she can achieve about 18" off the ground when powerfully motivated by the sight of someone else getting a treat), and a SLW who sleeps cuddled up to the Brahma. The SLW can get on the perch -- I sometimes see her up there stretching to peer out of the monitor when I'm late letting them out -- but she doesn't.

I don't have experience with it, but I'm told that the pullets and the hens will act as one flock after the pullets start laying. Right now the teen girls don't hang out with the adult women.

 

[Driley62]

It often takes young chickens a while to get in the habit of roosting. My Splits as just starting to roost now at 12 weeks. I actually have 2 floor sleepers in the adults -- a Light Brahma who may not be able to get up there with limited flying space (she can achieve about 18" off the ground when powerfully motivated by the sight of someone else getting a treat), and a SLW who sleeps cuddled up to the Brahma. The SLW can get on the perch -- I sometimes see her up there stretching to peer out of the monitor when I'm late letting them out -- but she doesn't.

I don't have experience with it, but I'm told that the pullets and the hens will act as one flock after the pullets start laying. Right now the teen girls don't hang out with the adult women.

Now that you mention it...I think I remember reading something about pullets not hanging with hens til they start laying. The additions for me are 2 SLW, 2 GLW, 2 sapphire gems and 3 "ameraucana". The one that was injured was a sapphire gem. I literally just put her back, went to walk away and heard a sort of a commotion. I turned around to investigate and she was on the roost bar. She had a couple light pecks from a hen but nothing of concern and she continued to not bother with the pullet. Maybe because she was the one with the biggest balls out of the 9 to stand up for itself rather than run.

 

[aart]

I think I remember reading something about pullets not hanging with hens til they start laying.

Yeppers!

 

[Driley62]

My wonder is though will the young birds at least at some point eventually occupy the same space? Not necessarily mingle with each other but still walk around in the same area together but separate...if you get what im saying.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

My wonder is though will the young birds at least at some point eventually occupy the same space? Not necessarily mingle with each other but still walk around in the same area together but separate...if you get what im saying.

They will! My littles were all roosting with the bigs at 8 weeks I think. They were 2 completely different groups(for the most part) until recently when they started to lay. The second pic is my BO and one of my littles dust bathing together at about 13 weeks old

 

[Driley62]

They will! My littles were all roosting with the bigs at 8 weeks I think. They were 2 completely different groups(for the most part) until recently when they started to lay. The second pic is my BO and one of my littles dust bathing together at about 13 weeks old

Good to know! Any tips on getting my little birds to use the roost. I've been going out every night and placing them on the roost. But by the time I get the last one on, two or three jump off and go back to their corner they're seemingly banished to lol.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Good to know! Any tips on getting my little birds to use the roost. I've been going out every night and placing them on the roost. But by the time I get the last one on, two or three jump off and go back to their corner they're seemingly banished to lol.

That I can't answer. I went out one night to lock everyone up and there they were, lol. Before that they slept in their safe house which I took out the following day

 

[Driley62]

Well crap. I guess the every night repetition will maybe give them a hint. I kinda goofed up while they were in the brooder. I never gave them any type of roost bar. But once they could lift off with their wings they were roosting on the edge of the edge of the stock tank. So I figured they'd take right to it in the coop.

 

[Auntiejessi3]

Well crap. I guess the every night repetition will maybe give them a hint. I kinda goofed up while they were in the brooder. I never gave them any type of roost bar. But once they could lift off with their wings they were roosting on the edge of the edge of the stock tank. So I figured they'd take right to it in the coop.

They may just still be adapting