New chicken roosting issues

[Cherilou]

Hi there! I have a small flock of three chickens that have been together for about four years. A friend of mine just gave me her six-year-old Chicken that she can no longer keep. They do OK by staying away from one another during the day, but they will simply not let her on the roost at night and are vicious. I have placed a cardboard divider up and put her on that one side And it has worked but obviously I cannot do this forever. Should I get a separate small Coop for her to roost in at night? Or should I use the bully blaster? Also, I was thinking of adding another chicken but don’t want to double my problems. Any advice is great. I read Penny’s plight and it did help.

 

[sourland]

How long has it been since you introduced the new hen, and how large is your coop and the roost?

 

[Cherilou]

Roost is 5 1/2 feet. Introduced the new chicken for two weeks ago. Left her in a portion of the run that was fenced off for a little over a week.

 

[Cherilou]

Also, I put a cardboard divider up four nights ago and each night she would go in the roost first, and I would move her over to the other side of the divider. Then the other hen would come in and no problems. However, I’ve realized now that was not a good option because we are not going to be home Until after dark and she will have to get up on the roost wherever she is.

 

[aart]

Can you add a second roost?
That would help now and later if you add more birds?
Pics inside coop would help garner viable solutions.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would leave the cardboard up, even if I was not there at dark when they are roosting. A couple of things will happen. Chickens are often habitual - so she will roost on the other side. Or she will push the pecking order, and try and roost on their side. If it gets too wild, she will be off the roost and will naturally move away from the attack. But generally, she will find a spot, with the others, where she is allowed IF there is Enough space.

Pictures really do help.

 

[Cherilou]

I would leave the cardboard up, even if I was not there at dark when they are roosting. A couple of things will happen. Chickens are often habitual - so she will roost on the other side. Or she will push the pecking order, and try and roost on their side. If it gets too wild, she will be off the roost and will naturally move away from the attack. But generally, she will find a spot, with the others, where she is allowed IF there is Enough space.

Pictures really do help


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[Cherilou]

Here is my roost measuring 5 1/2 ft I have been moving new hen to salt beside divider

 

[Cherilou]

I will have to remove divider before we are gone tomorrow. Otherwise they would all be forced to be together, which would probably not be good. At least if I take the divider down there may be a bit more room.

 

[Cherilou]

And due to where the ladder to the roost is, she wouldn’t even be able to get over there. I don’t believe.