The girls aren't getting along so well :(

[chicknlove]

I have five ladies all 18weeks on the verge of laying. I heard they get moody before they start to lay. I notice they have been pecking eachother mostly trying to find a good spot on the roost and this goes on for an hour or so. Is this just the way it goes? Can I do something to calm them down or protect the girls from getting hurt? They only use half of the roost because they all want to huddle together, otherwise I would think making another roost for them to spread out would be an option.

 

[7 Biddies]

Mine all crowd on to one roost and huddle together, too. Plus, they jockey around for position on the roost, making a racket, before they finally settle down to sleep. Yesterday, I put up a longer roost because they had pretty much outgrown the original. Although they had much more room when roosting last night, the behaviors continued. So, I guess it's just a chicken thing. Go figure.

At least, with the longer roost, nobody gets shoved off, and the one who prefers to be off by herself can now have all the space she wants.

 

[Nicole01]

Mine will do this until they settle down. I've noticed that they do tend to stay in their particular spot night after night once they sort themselves out.

 

[chicknlove]

Yeah they all use to have their particular spot on the roost but recently they are resparring for a new position.. I feel bad for the one in the middle who just wants to be by her best friend. She's just stubborn enough to take a beating for it.