Suspected night bullying

[maggieandotis]

She's molting and probably doesn't want to be touched so she is nipping at you to leave her alone.
They molt at different times throughout the year. I currently have a 9 month old molting and she's decide to sleep by herself. They don't feel their best while molting.

That is interesting! I didn't know that they molted so young! I thought it was 18 months that was their first adult molt. I would be so happy if it is molting.

 

[maggieandotis]

By the way, I like your set up. I just have one big coop. I wish I could have 2 so I could keep my bantams away form my other chickens.

Thank you! My husband has really worked hard on giving them a nice place to live. I am grateful.

 

[maggieandotis]

Those are pin feathers so she's growing new feathers in at the neck. I think she may be doing a juvenile molt.

That is encouraging! @Crazy Maizie suggested the same thing.

 

[Sc_chickengirl]

They roost but the roost is very low to the bed in this coop. Maybe only an inch or two off the floor. I hope I figure it out soon! My hen was so sweet and curious and had such a fun personality and now she is skittish and sometimes aggressive.

Good luck! I hope you figure it out. She'll probably be perfectly normal in a couple weeks.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

That is interesting! I didn't know that they molted so young! I thought it was 18 months that was their first adult molt. I would be so happy if it is molting.

There are a lot of timelines out there that chickens don't follow.

 

[aart]

Those coops are small, crowding aggression can happen even if they just sleep there.

Chickens molt and grow a new set of feathers 2-3 times before around 6 months of age, those are called the juvenile molts.
Some pullets will have a partial molt their first fall/winter.
Most birds will have their first full adult molt their second fall/winter.

 

[maggieandotis]

Those coops are small, crowding aggression can happen even if they just sleep there.

Chickens molt and grow a new set of feathers 2-3 times before around 6 months of age, those are called the juvenile molts.
Some pullets will have a partial molt their first fall/winter.
Most birds will have their first full adult molt their second fall/winter.

Thank you. I am really hoping that is the case that she is just molting. That will make me feel better. According to this article and others I read when I set up the coops, the coops should be big enough. https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-much-room-do-chickens-need/ There are (4) hens to the big coop which has an indoor roosting bar of about 5' across and the small coop is 3' across and has (2) hens sleeping in it. The rooster sleeps by himself in a soundproof set up so he doesn't wake the neighbors. The yard area is 15' x 30'. How many hens do you think is the max based on my set up? I don't want to have my chickens overcrowded.

 

[aart]

Thank you. I am really hoping that is the case that she is just molting. That will make me feel better. According to this article and others I read when I set up the coops, the coops should be big enough. https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/how-much-room-do-chickens-need/ There are (4) hens to the big coop which has an indoor roosting bar of about 5' across and the small coop is 3' across and has (2) hens sleeping in it. The rooster sleeps by himself in a soundproof set up so he doesn't wake the neighbors. The yard area is 15' x 30'. How many hens do you think is the max based on my set up? I don't want to have my chickens overcrowded.

That page was hard to read for all the advertising, but this baloney stopped me dead:
"Now you might think with chicken coops, the bigger, the better? Well, this certainly isn’t the case. Large chicken coops with only a small number of chickens can actually be bad because the chickens can’t generate enough heat to keep the coop warm."

Adequate ventilation, which is essential to chicken health,
makes having a coop 'hold heat' moot.

 

[maggieandotis]

That page was hard to read for all the advertising, but this baloney stopped me dead:
"Now you might think with chicken coops, the bigger, the better? Well, this certainly isn’t the case. Large chicken coops with only a small number of chickens can actually be bad because the chickens can’t generate enough heat to keep the coop warm."

Adequate ventilation, which is essential to chicken health,
makes having a coop 'hold heat' moot.

So, what do you think is the right amount of chickens for my setup? I am on this forum because I want to make sure I am providing my chickens with the best environment and health possible. Looking for help. Not condemnation.

 

[aart]

So, what do you think is the right amount of chickens for my setup?

No less than 4sqft per bird in the coop and no less than 10sqft in the run.
(ETA, oh and, integrating new birds works much better with extra space.)
Measure your coop, not including the nests.
I would guess 2-3 birds per coop,
but I don't know the dimensions of your coops
(unless I missed them, my apologies if I did).