MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

I think Janet will have to go to sleep in isolation in the little coop for a week. I'll put her on the proper roost after the sun's gone down and they're all settled.

 

[BY Bob]

I often intervene @ roosting ~ mainly because Lavender is such a BIG girl. Once there are a few girls on that top roost she has trouble getting up there but inevitably getting her up there causes a commotion. Last night Lottie got left behind. I don't like her roosting on her own just because she's so tiny so I tucked her in with the Campines ~ they get along ~ everyone suddenly decided they didn't like their roost mate & there was a mad scramble while everyone changed to a new position.

I am constantly entertained by all the roosting shenanigans. It can have a lot of drama.

 

[Ribh]

I am constantly entertained by all the roosting shenanigans. It can have a lot of drama.

Mine don't generally fuss too much but last night was definitely not one of those nights!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Alice has taken to roosting in the nesting box the last couple of nights.
I think it is because Pepper is insisting on roosting next to her "big sister" Edwina and Alice's beak is out of joint about it

 

[MaryJanet]

I've decided to do an experiment. One week of the hens putting themselves to bed. Then one week of putting them to bed early. Measure the aggression and see if there's a difference. Tonight was the first night of putting themselves to bed. Aggression 1/10 (one face down, no pecking)

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening MJ

 

[Grammy60]

Good evening MJ

 

[BY Bob]

I've decided to do an experiment. One week of the hens putting themselves to bed. Then one week of putting them to bed early. Measure the aggression and see if there's a difference. Tonight was the first night of putting themselves to bed. Aggression 1/10 (one face down, no pecking)

I am very interested in how this goes. Why do you put them tho bed early? In my experience the later they go to bed the less shenangians there are. I'm definately interested in what you see.

 

[MaryJanet]

Good evening MJ

Good evening MJ

Good evening friends
How was your Monday?

 

[MaryJanet]

I am very interested in how this goes. Why do you put them tho bed early? In my experience the later they go to bed the less shenangians there are. I'm definately interested in what you see.

Sometimes I have awkwardly timed meetings or dinner plans. A couple of times last week I put them away 15 minutes early so I could meet friends at restaurants and I noticed lots of monkey business. Other times I'm worried about foxes - there are so many where I live. Last night I had dinner early (at an early evening meeting) and the sun was still up when I got home, so it occured to me to let the chooks out again, then I just watched them go in by themselves and noticed very little monkey business. I'm embarrassed it took me so long to consider the connection between bedtime procedures and bullying. Unfortunately this evening I've got a dinner with my cousins at 7, so it'll be early to bed for the hens, disrupting the experiment and perhaps their happiness.

Because of the foxes, the chooks have a spacious open air coop that they spend a lot of time in. The coop is 4m2 + 2m2 of perches which they climb up to all day long. When I'm not home, they're in the coop for safety from foxes (and hawks). It's fine but not ideal, which is why I'm planning another coop + much larger, safe run.

When I've got time, I'll make a proper post about the hen house. I'm in a very busy fortnight just now.