We have 11 chickens. 10 are hens and one cockerel. I have had them all since they were chicks, they are all about 8 months old. 8 of the chickens roost on the one side of the coop. We have two roosting bars each about 4 foot across. They are about 4 feet apart at the same height. One on the left side of the coop and one on the right side of the coop. It is a mixed flock the 8 chickens that are roosting together are: 2 black marans, 2 rhode island reds, 3 easter eggers, and the cockerel which was supposed to be a starlight green egger. They all go on that one side and will not split up and go onto the other side. On the other roost there was two barred rocks, however one is much smaller than the other now and the larger one growls at the other if I put her up on the roost. We have a golden comet who has not been roosting for about 2 months. If I throw her up on the side with the 8 chickens she is fine, but will not go on her own. She will go sleep in a nesting box or on the floor-I would rather her be on a roost. Tonight I tried to throw her up with the barred rock and she went and pecked/bit the larger barred rock and made her get off the roost. Every time she would try to jump back up the golden comet would peck and bite her and make her get back down. So I took the golden comet down and threw her up with the 8 chickens.
I figured that there is enough room on the one roost since it is 4 foot across and only 1 possibly 2 chickens on it, but apparently not. Do I need to add another roost down lower? Any suggestions on how to get the golden comet to roost on her own and fix the squabbling between my larger barred rock and my smaller one who just wants to cuddle? haha. We are in south eastern NC and it is starting to get cold at night-I want to make sure that the chickens that aren't cuddling all together stay warm.
Thank you!
I figured that there is enough room on the one roost since it is 4 foot across and only 1 possibly 2 chickens on it, but apparently not. Do I need to add another roost down lower? Any suggestions on how to get the golden comet to roost on her own and fix the squabbling between my larger barred rock and my smaller one who just wants to cuddle? haha. We are in south eastern NC and it is starting to get cold at night-I want to make sure that the chickens that aren't cuddling all together stay warm.
Thank you!