Removed a Hen from the Coop

[Lazy Farmer]

With multi level perches, the dominant birds go higher, and lower pecking order birds stay on the lowers.
4 levels and 12 feet wide... They need their space.. elbow room. lol

 

[SueT]

With multi level perches, the dominant birds go higher, and lower pecking order birds stay on the lowers.
4 levels and 12 feet wide... They need their space.. elbow room. lol

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Wow, you have a lot of chickens! I only have 9! I'm probably spoiling them with dividers! I noticed last night, it got so cold that 4 pullets who previously squabbled over roost space, were all cuddled together on one short bar.

 

[deepbluesea]

The cloth dividers are genius--thank you!

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Wow, you have a lot of chickens! I only have 9! I'm probably spoiling them with dividers! I noticed last night, it got so cold that 4 pullets who previously squabbled over roost space, were all cuddled together on one short bar.

In extreme cold conditions, the meanest of chickens will huddle side by side very close to the weak ones to combine their body heat. On the hot nights they go back to king of the top bunk. So dividers are good in the summer but winter is a different story. A little food for thought.

 

[aart]

Got a curtain up, we will see what happens at 4:45PM... I do like the idea of a curtain better than a wood wall I hope Red likes it.

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JT

Cloth makes me nervous, especially the loopy nap and fringes. Watch closely. UI the curtain works, maybe a different material, something smooth and tight ly woven

I like to wait and see how it works out.

JT

Kudos!!

 

[old chief]

when I built my last coop I made the roost bars all the same height it stopped the nightly squabbles.

 

[Chickassan]

My one meanie snuggles through the cloth,she doesn't want to look at anyone but she'll still take that body heat.

In extreme cold conditions, the meanest of chickens will huddle side by side very close to the weak ones to combine their body heat. On the hot nights they go back to king of the top bunk. So dividers are good in the summer but winter is a different story. A little food for thought.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

With multi level perches, the dominant birds go higher, and lower pecking order birds stay on the lowers.
4 levels and 12 feet wide... They need their space.. elbow room. lol

View attachment 1202825

Oh my. Is this your coop? This must be what they mean by chicken math!

 

[speckledhen]

If only one is being picked on, I put up a "shorty roost", which we used to call The Princess Roost, LOL (our late lavender bantam Cochin hen was known as the Purple Princess and she was the first to have one). But, if there is enough roost space, they'll work it out. The head hen can be snarky with the others, especially. A chicken's world can look like a savage place to us. Just don't look! Seriously, sometimes, it's better to turn away and let them work it out unless someone is bleeding badly.
one of our "Princess roosts", this one for a pullet who was put into an adult group.

 

[azygous]

Yes, keep an eye on any loosely woven cloth. I use naugahyde, a plastic coated canvas, and also scraps of old plastic tarp with edges taped so it doesn't fray. Chickens will find any loose thread and soon will have the cloth dismantled, risking becoming entangled in it.