South Carolina

[RedBugPoultry]

I finally settled the "Fight at Night"...I installed an 8watt night light in my chicken coop. Where my chickens sleep it's very dark on their roost, so at dusk as they try to get to their roost they fly up on top of each other cause they can't see. Well tonight it was peaceful roosting time. The night light is on a timer and cuts on at 5 and off at 8pm. I just went down to check on them and it was so nice to hear nothing....everybody was on a roost and starting to sleep. That 8watt light gives off just enough light to see but not to keep them from sleeping. LOVE this Idea!!!!

Yancy, glad to hear that this works! I think I need it in all my pens! Or at least the ones where the birds go to bed late--have you noticed that different breeds go to bed at different times? Maybe that is why they were fighting over the roost as some went to bed before the others?

 

[EggieRowe]

Good to know its normal behavior for them to be so fussy at bedtime. My previous hens didn't put up too much fuss w/roost spots - it was all the same height, but they were 6 mos old when I got them. And I never watched the new chicks put themselves to bed in the brooder, though I would see them in a huge pile sleeping despite the roosts. But when I moved them to the coop, the first night I heard a flurry of activity that made me think predator. I ran down to the coop and they were 'boiling' in a corner - I assume to be the one in the very corner? It was quite disturbing to watch them trample each other and make such a racket. They were never that vigorous even as chicks when they got spooked. Now at 13 weeks they still sleep in that pile instead of on the roosts - crazy birds!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Yancy, glad to hear that this works! I think I need it in all my pens! Or at least the ones where the birds go to bed late--have you noticed that different breeds go to bed at different times? Maybe that is why they were fighting over the roost as some went to bed before the others?

I wondered if it was just my birds! Yes, my Jersey Giants always go to bed first and my EE's always go in last! Lots of others go in to bed at different times in between but those big black JG girls are the first in the coop and on the top roost!
The Leghorns go in early, too but fly up on the fence that separates the free range coop from the grow up pen. They have smashed it down to where they can sleep on it but have to duck their heads because the roof is right above them. Rotten girls!

 

[Moonchild]

Yeah my girls all go to bed at different time...The Rooster goes to bed first(he likes to sleep) LOL ..My roost are all at the same height and one spot is as good as the other, but it was so dark in there they would hop right on top of one another and push one off then THE FIGHT would start. One of my BO got her leg hurt getting knocked off the roost. Not sure if anybody has notice my chickens sleep in groups. All my EE's sleep to together and my BO BR's sleep together...the odd birds just sleep where ever. BUT again tonight no fighting and everybody just settled right on in....Now we work on Pooping out in the yard not in the coop!!! THink it will work???

 

[Chicken Soj]

i got some

 

[Patsy29332]

Yeah my girls all go to bed at different time...The Rooster goes to bed first(he likes to sleep) LOL ..My roost are all at the same height and one spot is as good as the other, but it was so dark in there they would hop right on top of one another and push one off then THE FIGHT would start. One of my BO got her leg hurt getting knocked off the roost. Not sure if anybody has notice my chickens sleep in groups. All my EE's sleep to together and my BO BR's sleep together...the odd birds just sleep where ever. BUT again tonight no fighting and everybody just settled right on in....Now we work on Pooping out in the yard not in the coop!!! THink it will work???

Post step-by-step how you accomplish THAT!!!

You are just too hilarious!!! And full of great ideas!!! Hey, lots of them do work for you...

 

[Avonshire]

So sorry Walt! My DD Samantha fought it back by applying neosporin without the pain med to the pox and I think she did other things but that is one big thing she did a couple times a day I think...PM her too to get the whole scoop...I think she saved them all in a small time frame...it has been a while so I don't recall everything she did...she is the Ultimate Hen...ROFL!!!

She IS the ultimate hen!!

 

[RedBugPoultry]

Yeah my girls all go to bed at different time...The Rooster goes to bed first(he likes to sleep) LOL ..My roost are all at the same height and one spot is as good as the other, but it was so dark in there they would hop right on top of one another and push one off then THE FIGHT would start. One of my BO got her leg hurt getting knocked off the roost. Not sure if anybody has notice my chickens sleep in groups. All my EE's sleep to together and my BO BR's sleep together...the odd birds just sleep where ever. BUT again tonight no fighting and everybody just settled right on in....Now we work on Pooping out in the yard not in the coop!!! THink it will work???

They do have chicken diapers....

 

[samouw]

I have four baby chicks, hatched out 9/15, so they are three weeks old. They are still too young to sex, but I think two maybe cockerels and two are pullets. The two that I think may be cockerels are a cross between my wh. Amer. roo and one of the BLRW hens. Here's the problem: I've never seen chicks this young be soooo aggressive! To the point where the two AMxBLRW are drawing blood and terrorizing the other two chicks (AM x EE). They have plenty of food, fresh water, and lots of room (48 x 28) with a 48" roost about 6" high.
I have separated them for now, but that's not a good long term solution. Any ideas?

 

[KPenley]

I have four baby chicks, hatched out 9/15, so they are three weeks old. They are still too young to sex, but I think two maybe cockerels and two are pullets. The two that I think may be cockerels are a cross between my wh. Amer. roo and one of the BLRW hens. Here's the problem: I've never seen chicks this young be soooo aggressive! To the point where the two AMxBLRW are drawing blood and terrorizing the other two chicks (AM x EE). They have plenty of food, fresh water, and lots of room (48 x 28) with a 48" roost about 6" high.
I have separated them for now, but that's not a good long term solution. Any ideas?

What kind of food are they eating? I've heard that some chicks peck others because they need more protein. Could they be too hot? I hope the wounded chicks are healing in separation. *hugs*