Putting two roost together, same ock. Less chickens. Is this okay to do? My chickens are getting so spaced out now with two roost, I don't know if it

[pasknucklehead]

Putting two roost together

 

[sourland]

?

 

[Banana01]

It is okay if you have the patience and space to let them get accustomed to each other. It also depends on how many hens you have. They should end up splitting up and keeping their own hens.

I've managed to keep a dozen roosters and you are right they will space out more, or get chased further away. But if you have enough hens they should form cliques.

You could add a second feed dish too so they aren't fighting over the same feed tray. If you keep a couple of water dishes and food trays they may be able to learn to live together. Even without the additional food and water, they should be able to get along if there are hens for both.

 

[pasknucklehead]

I'm not sure if I'm even in the right section and keep forgetting how to actually ask a question. So I will try once again. Sorry if I have multiple parts of my question. What I'm wondering is this. I made my coop three years ago to accommodate 24 hens. Since that time, the older ones have passed and now I only have 12. My question is this, I still have two roost up, one on each side of the wall and when they all go to bed, they are all scattered. Now that it is becoming colder, I worry that they will not be close enough to keep each other warm. Would it be okay to take down one roost so they would have to be closer.?

 

[Mrs. K]

I would not worry about them not being warm. They tend to keep themselves warm. Think of sitting next to someone in a coat at a football game. At best, you can block the wind a bit better, but you keep yourself warm.

With the extra space, they have room to move away from each other, and not get so irritable. They might start pecking if forced closer. I would let this be their decision, they know about being a chicken.

 

[rosemarythyme]

"Roost" - are you referring to roosters or roost bars? Very confused as to the question.

Don't write your question in the title, write it in the body of the post, with as much details/photos as possible.

 

[pasknucklehead]

"Roost" - are you referring to roosters or roost bars? Very confused as to the question.

Don't write your question in the title, write it in the body of the post, with as much details/photos as possible.

I'm sorry, I am referring to the roost bars.

 

[pasknucklehead]

I would not worry about them not being warm. They tend to keep themselves warm. Think of sitting next to someone in a coat at a football game. At best, you can block the wind a bit better, but you keep yourself warm.

With the extra space, they have room to move away from each other, and not get so irritable. They might start pecking if forced closer. I would let this be their decision, they know about being a chicken.

Thankyou so much for the quick reply.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I'm sorry, I am referring to the roost bars.

It's actually good to have some space between roost bars, a minimum of 14-16" depending on size of the birds, but more may be needed to keep the birds happy and prevent them from picking at each other, or picking at younger birds/newcomers.

 

[pasknucklehead]

It's actually good to have some space between roost bars, a minimum of 14-16" depending on size of the birds, but more may be needed to keep the birds happy and prevent them from picking at each other, or picking at younger birds/newcomers.

Thank you