Roost wars

[Bridge for birds]

Hello! I introduced my six 18 month old chicks to my two older hens a few weeks ago.

There’s one queen who pecks and is mean to them, but nothing serious, until it’s roost time! I am always finding them huddled together in the nest box or on the wire below the roosts. I’ve spied on them at roost time to confirm that it is dear Queen Farrah Fawcett who scares the bejesus out of them when they try to roost.

Anything I should be doing? Or just let nature run it’s course and let them sort it out?

 

[MadamPoofyBrow]

This is pretty common when introducing new ones. What I do is give them a separate place to roost on the other end of the coop, and the older birds will usually go where they’re used to and leave the new ones alone. Eventually things sort themselves out and everyone ends up together. Not sure if it’s the best solution, but it works for me

 

[Bridge for birds]

Thanks for the idea! I will see if I can put up a separate temporary roost!

 

[rosemarythyme]

x2 on a second roost. THey absolutely should not be allowed to sleep in nest boxes, it's a bad habit once it starts.

 

[aart]

six 18 month old chicks

18 months....or weeks?