New chickens want to roost?

[LilJoe]

It should be high enough(for an intro pen) so I don't think it's that

 

[drumstick diva]

They may not like the pvc - chickens like to be on a wider roost - generally a 2 x 4 with the 4" side up. They don't grasp like wild birds, they like their feet flat out on the roost and they lay their heads on top. They also seem old enough to integrate into the older flock. If you choose to do so, please check out the "Look but don't touch," method of integration.

 

[lpyrbby]

I really can't wait for us to get those kennel panels to make the area larger. We're planning on getting 8 ten foot panels, one with a gate, so we can provide them with some safe ranging area, until we can afford to put some pasture fence up. It's mainly to slow down the neighbor dogs from hauling through the yards after them. Both sets of birds seem to be ignoring each other, for the most part, unless I'm refilling or doling out treats. Doing those panels will add an additional 400 sq ft for them to work with, giving roughly 44 sq ft per bird. I'm hoping that will be enough space to just open both pens and allow them a chance to mingle and get to know one another. We won't get them delivered until sometime next week though, so at best, won't get them up until next weekend.

I hope whatever has happened that is causing them some level of discomfort is something that they can deal with for another week.

 

[lpyrbby]

They may not like the pvc - chickens like to be on a wider roost - generally a 2 x 4 with the 4" side up. They don't grasp like wild birds, they like their feet flat out on the roost and they lay their heads on top. They also seem old enough to integrate into the older flock. If you choose to do so, please check out the "Look but don't touch," method of integration.

I'll look for that information and see what it offers.

PVC was all we had to work with for that space :/ It isn't ideal, I know. I'm trying to figure out how I'll redo the roosts in the big coop for them once we are ready to get them moved over. The other 4 birds are actually younger, by about a month. I'm dying to put them together, but want it to go well also. I've got two cockerels that are coming of age and I'm trying to save the other two pullets from getting pummeled lol.

 

[lpyrbby]

Okay, I read through the article and what we're planning on doing is right in line with the look don't touch method. They're already outside of the main coop (I know, I'm a jerk and didn't quarantine the new from the old - is what it is at this point) in a pen where they can see each other and get used to one another, but not harm one another. With the addition of the kennel panels, that should provide them all enough room to wander and also get away from one another if need be while we work through the growing pains of adding new birds. Although inconvenient, I made sure the food is near each other in both pens, and since we're using a bucket for watering both pens, they're nearly drinking together too.

Hang tough with me for another week, biddies.

Are there any articles or threads about knowing when the birds were actually ready to interact? If I can tolerate the heat for a while, I'm going to set up a chair out there tomorrow and just observe.

 

[donrae]

My thought is, since the space is a bit tight, the more dominant birds aren't allowing the more submissive birds to roost. Sleeping spots are all about status in the bird world. They probably all roosted at first as they were all in a new situation. Once you get everyone together, there will be a lot of jockeying for the correct space on the roost at night until they sort things out.

 

[LilJoe]

They may not like the pvc - chickens like to be on a wider roost - generally a 2 x 4 with the 4" side up. They don't grasp like wild birds, they like their feet flat out on the roost and they lay their heads on top. They also seem old enough to integrate into the older flock. If you choose to do so, please check out the "Look but don't touch," method of integration.

I agree

My thought is, since the space is a bit tight, the more dominant birds aren't allowing the more submissive birds to roost. Sleeping spots are all about status in the bird world. They probably all roosted at first as they were all in a new situation. Once you get everyone together, there will be a lot of jockeying for the correct space on the roost at night until they sort things out. 

Same here my most dominate birds sleep on the top roost in my coop so I'd have to agree

 

[lpyrbby]

Thanks everyone!

While we wait on the kennel panels, we'll be trying to come up with a better roost for in the hoop coop. What's in there now, while it could reasonably "hold" all 12 birds, I don't think is going to be enough for them. We'll probably move the ladder contraption out into the expanded run once we come up with something better. Same with the PVC roost lol.

 

[aart]

Thanks everyone!

While we wait on the kennel panels, we'll be trying to come up with a better roost for in the hoop coop. What's in there now, while it could reasonably "hold" all 12 birds, I don't think is going to be enough for them. We'll probably move the ladder contraption out into the expanded run once we come up with something better. Same with the PVC roost lol.

Just make the same length and height roost but with a 2x4 and couple of triangular pieces of plywood to hold it up.
Agrees with donrae that it might be a pecking order thing too.

 

[donrae]

Depending on when your panels are coming, I wouldn't stress over it too much. No one's getting hurt by sleeping on the ground.