Roosting outside of coop

[dennyb]

Recently added two Americauna pullets to my established flock of 4 RIR's. The older hens have brutalized the two youngsters. That behavior has changed somewhat but the two
new additions won't roost inside the coop but even though I have clipped wings,they jump up to a tree limb above the four foot chain link fence which encloses my chicken area. I
have put them in coop and on roost myself, but they don't go there on their own. They seem to be fine on their outside roost, but is that OK? Don't want to go out every night and
place them on roost myself. Not sure what to do. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

RIRs can be very pecky. Ameraucanas can be very timid...so I personally would make sure that your Ameraucanas are at least 16 weeks of age before even attempting to integrate them.

Roosting outside, they are vulnerable to predators like owls, raccoons, and weasels.

You may want to make sure they have enough roost space to get away from the RIRs and also may want to consider trying pinless peepers for the RIRs (some people have success with them and others not so much).

 

[katekearby]

pinless peepers, hum, the boss of our original flock is Thelma a Barred Rock, second in Line Lucy the NH Red. Adding 3 18 week old Easter Eggers yesterday, I let them out together in the play yard (endclosed) together today. The 'boss' with her back up, occasionally picked/pecked on the new girls. and the smallest EE runt somehow flew out a small crack in the bird netting.

All caught back up ok, no one is bleeding, Hope all remains fairly well.

Tonight I'm expecting the older girls, about 25 weeks, to go in the big coop, and the others to do what they did last night and roost in the 55 gallon drum, or on it (under the eve of the big coop) like they did last night. We had a pretty good rain come thru this morning and I think they all had lots of dry places to be out of the winds and all this morning.