should my 8 wk olds be following my 16 wk olds into the coop?

[Birdsong 82]

Yep.
IF there is enough roost space for the youngers.
best to have separate and a bit lower roosts for the newbs.
Older birds may still try to keep them out of the coop and/or off the roosts.

The RoostTimeRumble is the most contentious part of the day.

"RoostTimeRumble" is perfect. Every time the are closed up in the evening there's a lot of commotion for about 20 min just to result in every bird ending up on their usual pole.

 

[aart]

No. No time in coop at all. Last night right after dark I saw them sitting in the doorway with my flashlight and was excited to see that. So I quickly left them alone so they would adapt on their own. Maybe I can try to watch them a little closer tonight.

Do you free range or are they confined to run?

 

[Flame80]

They are confined to run.

 

[aart]

They are confined to run.

Oh, was going to suggest putting youngsters in coop while olders were our ranging.

 

[Flame80]

Well, all 3 young birds roost right on the edge of the pop door opening and do not go in the coop. I leave the pop door open 24 hours a day because my run IS VARMIT PROOF! I suppose they will go in when they get ready. I hope they will because that is where I have my nests also! All food and water is outside in the run and none in the coop but remember the door is open all the time. After dark I'm sure I could "push" the young birds out of the doorway and into the coop and close the door behind them but It might be dangerous with 6 big birds in there against 3 younger ones.??

 

[aart]

After dark I'm sure I could "push" the young birds out of the doorway and into the coop and close the door behind them but It might be dangerous with 6 big birds in there against 3 younger ones.??

If they are getting along outside in the run, this would not be too risky.
IF you have a large enough coop with multiple roosts.
Post some pics of your coop and run inside and out, might be able to spot any problems and/or solutions.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

My 3 domoniques are 8 weeks old now and have been running free with my 15 week old white leghorns for 2 weeks. They are doing fine and not fighting. Just pecking order. I left the open brooder in the run and at night my older birds climb up the ladder and into the pop door and in the coop and nest area. This area is enclosed. My 3 young birds stay in the brooder on the ground at night but there is a large open door for them to get in and out anytime they want. Should I remove the brooder now to encourage them to go up and roost with the other birds?

If they are able to get up on the roost safely and the older chicks don’t bully them in anyway or hurt them. I don’t know how your coop is set up but if it’s like mine I would just be sure to have plenty of wood shavings or straw on the coop floor to pad the coop floor at this time especially in case they fall or get knocked off the roost while mounting or dismounting or in a scuffle. Sort of like gymnastics right now. You might still leave their escape route available for a few more days just in case just to be sure the pecking order has been securely established. Good luck. It all sounds great. They are all still at that age where they are all pretty nice and not secretly meanies.

 

[Flame80]

I'm not good at posting pictures. they are all on my phone anyway but... the coop is 3 foot x 8 ft. in size and I have one horizontal roosting board 1"x 2" that goes the complete 8 foot across. I have total of 9 birds

 

[MarkJr]

Rule of thumb is 4 sq ft per bird. 18” of roost per bird.

I’m running 3 sq ft per bird and everyone gets along fine. It’s not ideal, and I will be rectifying it in a few weeks when I change up stock.

The only thing I haven’t been able to cheat is the roost bar rule. I have ten chickens that roost on a 7’ bar. 3 on a 7’ bar and 1 on the other 7’ bar. I have a 7’ bar that is used as a help up bar. It doesn’t get used by anyone except newly weaned chirplets. If I even dare pull one roost bar out, it’s world war 3 in my coop. 21’ is their minimum. Even if they only technically use 14.

 

[aart]

I'm not good at posting pictures. they are all on my phone anyway but

Can find some help with that here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3/
or here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/announcements-feedback-issues-guides.3/?prefix_id=3

the coop is 3 foot x 8 ft. in size and I have one horizontal roosting board 1"x 2" that goes the complete 8 foot across. I have total of 9 birds

Sounds like pretty tight space for 6 birds let alone adding 3 more.
Might add another roost across the 3' span and lower than the main one for the younger birds.