New Pullets socially distancing - Should I be Concerned?

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

So a little bit of a background narrative, this is my first flock and it’s a mixed flock comprised of 8 pullets ranging from 8-10 weeks in age.

I got all of my pullets from a local Breeder in my area. I got 6 of the 8 pullets (2) Ameraucana, (2) French Black Copper Marans, (2) Rhode Island Red in mid April (April 18th). Then I added two more 8 week old speckled Sussex pullets from the same breeder on May 4th.
I have noticed the two new additions to the flock roost with the rest of the flock but when it comes to foraging throughout the day they do their own thing and they are distant from the rest of the flock. There is a size difference from the two new chickens to the rest of the flock die to them being separated by two weeks of age. The ten week pullets are larger. I have seen the usual pecking order behavior taking place so I am assuming they are just low man on the chicken totem pole for now because of their size.
Also I noticed at night all the birds are not using the roost bar. The are sleeping in an elevated chicken house that is enclosed but directly on the ground bedding versus the roost bar. During the day they hang out on the roost bars in the coop but they don’t sleep on the roost bars. What should I do? Thanks for the help!!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Normal for birds new to a group to be in a subflock from the others. They may not become one flock until they are laying.

The are sleeping in an elevated chicken house that is enclosed but directly on the ground bedding versus the roost bar. During the day they hang out on the roost bars in the coop but they don’t sleep on the roost bars.

They're in the coop but just sitting on the floor? Photos would help if that's not what you're describing.

Have any of them ever roosted at night (day time roosting is more like play)? If no, you need to train them to roost by manually placing them on the bars at nightfall.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

sounds like social distancing to me
Yeah sometimes they do that. I wouldn’t worry too much about it

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

@rosemarythyme

Here are some photos of the coop itself. You can see the roost bar inside the chicken house itself. They opt not to sleep on it but choose to sleep on the ground in the pine shavings.
During the day, they have used the roost bar outside the coop but never the one inside the chicken house.
In addition to the coop they have an additional 2,000 square feet around it that they free range in eating weeds and bugs during the day.

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

@Ihavesomechickens

thank you for the reply. This puts me at ease. I really enjoy my speckled Sussex chickens and didn’t want to think of having to re-home them. This idea of sub flocking makes sense and puts my mind at ease now.

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

Normal for birds new to a group to be in a subflock from the others. They may not become one flock until they are laying.



They're in the coop but just sitting on the floor? Photos would help if that's not what you're describing.

Have any of them ever roosted at night (day time roosting is more like play)? If no, you need to train them to roost by manually placing them on the bars at nightfall.

I posted a reply in this thread when you have a chance with photos

 

[rosemarythyme]

@rosemarythyme

Here are some photos of the coop itself. You can see the roost bar inside the chicken house itself. They opt not to sleep on it but choose to sleep on the ground in the pine shavings.

One issue is your coop (at least that back area) is very dark and... I don't see any ventilation either? Makes it difficult to see for them to roost in the first place and uninviting overall.

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

@rosemarythyme
During the day I prop that door open to let it breathe and clean it out so it doesn’t get saturated in an ammonia smell and I clean it out daily by working it over.
Should I install a window? Typically I close the chicken house door but it’s left slightly ajar to allow for some breathability. They all pile in there at night regularly as the sun sets. I’m just concerned about them coming across pathogens laying in the bedding where they poop.
So, the simple answer would be to cut a box out in the housing and install wire over it?
What would I do in the winters when it gets cold though and to avoid drafts overnight?
thank you again in
your thoughtful reply.

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

Here is a picture of what they do in their coop versus using the roost bar overnight.

 

[Austin_ChickenKing2020]

This evening, I placed them on the roost bar and they sat there for awhile but they would hop down after 5 minutes. They just seem content to congregate in the corner of the house. They appeared to be stressed when I rounded them up to seat them on the roost bar but I am hoping this will condition them to roost. Another friend of mine that has chickens informed me that over time they will acquire it and eventually start roosting on the bar themselves. They can reach it because they’ve flown up on it before.