Hi all
I'm after some advice regarding whether its necessary to move my new chook (had her about 3 weeks) in with my existing 3 chooks (i've had these guys for about 1/2 months) at night. The current set up is all the girls hang out together during the day and at night Christine, new chook, sleeps in her on very cosy coop and the other girls are in another coop. Christine takes herself off to bed about an hour before the other girls so I've just let her do her own thing and she appears to be happy. As I'm a new chook mum, I'm not sure of the best thing to do for her, I just want her to be happy as she came from a household that has left her quite traumatised and I have also just discovered that she has a couple of health issues. Is it essential to have them all together at night? Or is it ok for her to have her own space? Does it bond them closer as a flock if they sleep together? The head hen will chase her a little bit but she's not being picked on. Also, she doesn't sleep on a roost instead prefers to get snuggly on the ground, is that ok? She has a fancy new coop which is very cosy, insulated and filled with nice bedding, I'd be quite happy in there
Thanks in advance
Abi
I'm after some advice regarding whether its necessary to move my new chook (had her about 3 weeks) in with my existing 3 chooks (i've had these guys for about 1/2 months) at night. The current set up is all the girls hang out together during the day and at night Christine, new chook, sleeps in her on very cosy coop and the other girls are in another coop. Christine takes herself off to bed about an hour before the other girls so I've just let her do her own thing and she appears to be happy. As I'm a new chook mum, I'm not sure of the best thing to do for her, I just want her to be happy as she came from a household that has left her quite traumatised and I have also just discovered that she has a couple of health issues. Is it essential to have them all together at night? Or is it ok for her to have her own space? Does it bond them closer as a flock if they sleep together? The head hen will chase her a little bit but she's not being picked on. Also, she doesn't sleep on a roost instead prefers to get snuggly on the ground, is that ok? She has a fancy new coop which is very cosy, insulated and filled with nice bedding, I'd be quite happy in there

Thanks in advance
Abi