Older hen not going in the coop at night since change in the flock

[BigJ111]

Hi, about 2 weeks ago, I unfortunately had to euthanise one of our hens due health issues. Her best friend in the flock, Jane, about 2.5 years old, has been grieving her. We have added 2 new hens who are a bit under 4 months old. The transition in the pen has been going fairly well, however, since the 2 new girls have joined the older ones in the coop at night (previously they were kept in a separate adjacent pen to prevent bullying) Jane seems to refuse to go on her own in the coop at night, instead roosting outside in the pen. It seems obvious she is still stressed by the loss of her best friend and I suspect she is annoyed about the 2 new girls sleeping in now with them. Anyone has faced that kind of situation? Any advice on helping Jane getting her routine back and heading to the coop at night by herself? Thank you in advance.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Is she getting along with the newcomers outside of the coop during the day?

What happens when you manually place her inside at night? That'd really be the easiest way to enforce her cooping up with the others.

 

[BigJ111]

Is she getting along with the newcomers outside of the coop during the day?

What happens when you manually place her inside at night? That'd really be the easiest way to enforce her cooping up with the others.

At this point, they all get along rather well, but of course still putting in place the pecking order with the new girls. Jane is currently number 2 in the order. Nothing harsh though, regular charging or little peck once in a while, and i've seen them eat or stand next to each others without issue, and Jane acts normal otherwise. The new girls are tolerated but are not part of the flock yet I'd say, the 2 tend to stick together doing their own stuff, not always following the older ones, but it's just been about 2 weeks seeing each other and a 1 week all together in the same pen during the day.

I've had to grab Jane to put her inside the coop for 3 nights in a row. The 2 other older girls go in as normal at the same time than the new ones. Once inside, no issue, Jane hops to roost as normal until the morning. The new girls have to be put on the roost too as they try to sleep in the next box (for security i assume as they roost in the pen at all kinds of height without problem, but the older girls probably still scare them a bit)

 

[rosemarythyme]

At this point, they all get along rather well, but of course still putting in place the pecking order with the new girls. Jane is currently number 2 in the order. Nothing harsh though, regular charging or little peck once in a while, and i've seen them eat or stand next to each others without issue, and Jane acts normal otherwise.

Ok good, I was wondering if she'd lost positioning to the new arrivals but sounds like that isn't the case, so she isn't staying out due to fear of them.

I've had to grab Jane to put her inside the coop for 3 nights in a row. The 2 other older girls go in as normal at the same time than the new ones. Once inside, no issue, Jane hops to roost as normal until the morning. The new girls have to be put on the roost too as they try to sleep in the next box (for security i assume as they roost in the pen at all kinds of height without problem, but the older girls probably still scare them a bit)

What's your roost set up and space like? Is it 1 long roost or are there more than 1 (spaced at least 14-16" apart from the first if placed parallel)? Assuming 1 roost, even for only 5 girls, having a 2nd roost might help since you have new arrivals that probably are getting harassed off of a roosting spot.

Since Jane will roost when placed inside I'd continue to do that. My guess is when the other older hens are hassling the newcomers she doesn't like it and is jumping off/leaving the roost area.

I'd also block the nests just before dusk so the new ones can't sit in there, and then unblock once it's dark and they're roosted.

 

[BigJ111]

Ok good, I was wondering if she'd lost positioning to the new arrivals but sounds like that isn't the case, so she isn't staying out due to fear of them.

What's your roost set up and space like? Is it 1 long roost or are there more than 1 (spaced at least 14-16" apart from the first if placed parallel)? Assuming 1 roost, even for only 5 girls, having a 2nd roost might help since you have new arrivals that probably are getting harassed off of a roosting spot.

Since Jane will roost when placed inside I'd continue to do that. My guess is when the other older hens are hassling the newcomers she doesn't like it and is jumping off/leaving the roost area.

I'd also block the nests just before dusk so the new ones can't sit in there, and then unblock once it's dark and they're roosted.

Definitely not lost her pecking rank I know for sure she's not scared of them but i reckon mostly annoyed of those 2 replacing her best friend in the coop...

I've started to block the nest box at night with a 'door/flap' held with simple hooks, but the new girls managed somehow to pop it out of the hooks twice in the evening. When not, they try to sleep in a corner instead of roosting, so i put them on the roost but for sure they don't always stay there.
I should mention i go close their coop soon after they get in and open it a bit before they wake up as I know their schedule regarding how light it is outside (unblocking at the same time the nest box), that's why i know Jane doesn't get in then back out, she just stays out.

The roost is a long one and shaped like a E. The longer part could feet six girls and each shorter part could fit one girl. When there were only 4 girls, they often slept very close to each other and half the roost space was empty. That's why i don't think there's a roost space issue. I don't have space to set a second longer roost as it's a 'mobile' coop, a small house on feet in their pen that we move to the greenhouse during winter period (I live in a part of Europe where winters are pretty harsh and dark, so the greenhouse give them more sheltered area and space to run and play. Plus the greenhouse is way closer to our home than their summer pen, so easier to access when there's 30cm of snow on the ground)

All in all, I believe Jane is still somehow grieving her missing friend. So of course I can put her myself on the roost in the evening for as long as necessary, but i'm trying to figure out a way to help her moving on and accepting the new normal. There's no issue during daytime but clearly in the evening, she remembers someone is missing (most nights they used to sleep next to each other and one wouldn't go in without the other following immediately...)