Topic of the Week - Chicken Behaviour and Flock Dynamics Part 2 - Bullying Behaviour

[Doodlemom63]

Adding chickens to an existing situation that goes well, often leads to territorial issues. More chickens , more breeds, means you need more space.

Roost time is often the moment territorial behaviour occurs in the coop. Adding more (hidden) roosts or a second coop might be a good solution.

Your problems around roost may end if you add a smaller coop or a converted children’s playhouse in the run.
In the morning a automatic pop door could do wonders (until winter?).

If this is not working, you have another kind of a space issue. If you post a few photos. Give dimensions and more info about your chickens maybe you get more tips.

I have hardly any experience keeping chickens in cold and snow, and cant give good advice for winter accommodation.

Thanks for your input, I currently have a total of 15 bantams chickens my original 3 a roo and 2 hens aka(Fred, Wilma & Betty) Wilma has 3 chicks about 6wks old. Then I have 9 bantams 4 silkies, 2 mottled Cochins, 3 satins. They are about 6months old. My run is 9x12 and covered, the house is sadly not ideal I paid someone to build it and unfortunately I was scammed and it’s a hot mess it’s roughly 4x4. I have made a section on opposite side of run that the 9 use to roost and a swing. I have an outdoor brooder I built it’s not large enough for all of the 9 but I have cleaned it out and leave doors open so they can go in if they choose. FWB & chicks enjoy hanging out under my deck in the heat of the day. I keep multiple waterers and feed stations in random places. I’ll add some pictures to help show the layout. I live in the city my backyard is roughly 1/2 acre

 

[BDutch]

Thanks for your input, I currently have a total of 15 bantams chickens my original 3 a roo and 2 hens aka(Fred, Wilma & Betty) Wilma has 3 chicks about 6wks old. Then I have 9 bantams 4 silkies, 2 mottled Cochins, 3 satins. They are about 6months old. My run is 9x12 and covered, the house is sadly not ideal I paid someone to build it and unfortunately I was scammed and it’s a hot mess it’s roughly 4x4. I have made a section on opposite side of run that the 9 use to roost and a swing. I have an outdoor brooder I built it’s not large enough for all of the 9 but I have cleaned it out and leave doors open so they can go in if they choose. FWB & chicks enjoy hanging out under my deck in the heat of the day. I keep multiple waterers and feed stations in random places. I’ll add some pictures to help show the layout. I live in the city my backyard is roughly 1/2 acre

9 x 12 run and 4 x 4 coop would be super if you talk about meters . Talking about ft is way too small for so many bantams (imho).

I have 8 bantams, 2 coops with roosts, both about 1m2 (10sqft) and extra indoor space for nestnoxes.
My run space is about 16 m2 (160 sqft) and this is about the minimum requirement to keep them lock in and stay healthy. My chickens free range several hours a day too if possible . Chickens get stressed if they have to live in a small setup.

I advice you to enlarge both coop and run space. Or sell some of your chickens for peaceful coexistence.

Leaving the pop door between the coop and the run open can reduce stress in the morning but the run looks as if its not safe again predators that might dig underneath the construction.

The coop probably needs more ventilation openings near the roof to improve it. Make the openings safe with hardware cloth. There is a rule of thumb for normal sized chickens. Bantams probably can do with less, but both my coops have a lot of ventilation.

 

[Doodlemom63]

9 x 12 run and 4 x 4 coop would be super if you talk about meters . Talking about ft is way too small for so many bantams (imho).

I have 8 bantams, 2 coops with roosts, both about 1m2 (10sqft) and extra indoor space for nestnoxes.
My run space is about 16 m2 (160 sqft) and this is about the minimum requirement to keep them lock in and stay healthy. My chickens free range several hours a day too if possible . Chickens get stressed if they have to live in a small setup.

I advice you to enlarge both coop and run space. Or sell some of your chickens for peaceful coexistence.

Leaving the pop door between the coop and the run open can reduce stress in the morning but the run looks as if its not safe again predators that might dig underneath the construction.

The coop probably needs more ventilation openings near the roof to improve it. Make the openings safe with hardware cloth. There is a rule of thumb for normal sized chickens. Bantams probably can do with less, but both my coops have a lot of ventilation.

They free range all day everyday, I’m in the city surrounded by concrete and pavement only predators I have any concern with are hawks, however I have plenty of overhead coverage with trees plants and shrubs, and my dogs and my cat are out there on and off all day and throughout the night. I have other deterrents in place for nights if needed but for last 4 yrs I haven’t had an issue. They are only in the coop/run at night they are all usually all in by 8pm and I go lock doors and count everyone and refill feed and water.

 

[BDutch]

They free range all day everyday, I’m in the city surrounded by concrete and pavement only predators I have any concern with are hawks, however I have plenty of overhead coverage with trees plants and shrubs, and my dogs and my cat are out there on and off all day and throughout the night. I have other deterrents in place for nights if needed but for last 4 yrs I haven’t had an issue. They are only in the coop/run at night they are all usually all in by 8pm and I go lock doors and count everyone and refill feed and water.

½ an acre to free range whole day and not being locked up is great!
If your garden is predator safe, you only need to make some improvements to the coop and add more space for the little ones. More ventilation and more space before winter arrives.

 

[Doodlemom63]

½ an acre to free range whole day and not being locked up is great!
If your garden is predator safe, you only need to make some improvements to the coop and add more space for the little ones. More ventilation and more space before winter arrives.

I do feel it's predator proof as much as it could be it’s all chain link fenced in so they’re contained to just my property, so no stray dogs and my cat is very territorial and she loves her chickens she’s spends days just lounging and keeping watch, when chicks were in the house until they were old enough to go outside she slept in the room I kept them in nightly. Once they were moved outside to outdoor brooder she stayed outside and slept on top of the brooder lol I guess she bonded with the boogers and they are not afraid of her and will sit around her lol anyway I do have a larger coop coming this weekend my task now will be placement and how to keep the original 3 FWB from claiming it! Thank you for all the advice it’s greatly appreciated!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I do feel it's predator proof as much as it could be it’s all chain link fenced in so they’re contained to just my property, so no stray dogs and my cat is very territorial and she loves her chickens she’s spends days just lounging and keeping watch, when chicks were in the house until they were old enough to go outside she slept in the room I kept them in nightly. Once they were moved outside to outdoor brooder she stayed outside and slept on top of the brooder lol I guess she bonded with the boogers and they are not afraid of her and will sit around her lol anyway I do have a larger coop coming this weekend my task now will be placement and how to keep the original 3 FWB from claiming it! Thank you for all the advice it’s greatly appreciated!

This looks wonderful!

I’m also a city gardener, although on a lot that is only 0.15 acre, including house, etc., so not a ton of land.

I’d caution that there are more urban predators than you might be aware of: raccoons, coyotes, feral cats, dogs allowed out at night, plus nuisance animals like rats and possums. If you don’t have one already, you might want to get a security camera aimed at your coop and see what’s actually out there, sniffing around.

 

[BDutch]

This looks wonderful!

I’m also a city gardener, although on a lot that is only 0.15 acre, including house, etc., so not a ton of land.

I’d caution that there are more urban predators than you might be aware of: raccoons, coyotes, feral cats, dogs allowed out at night, plus nuisance animals like rats and possums. If you don’t have one already, you might want to get a security camera aimed at your coop and see what’s actually out there, sniffing around.

I live on another continent where we have less predators. Foxes, polecats and weasels are the only ones who live or come within cities. Normally they come in the night or early morning.

I live on 500 m2 (1/8 acre) without a fence in a town/small city. It has a municipality area behind it with blackberries, a natural spring and a creek. The chickens can roam there too.

Sometimes the people in my neighbourhood share video’s with foxes and weasels. Some report about missing rabbits or finding pieces of rabbits.
They are known as diggers. Going underneath fences, like dogs.

I had a fox in the chicken run about 5 years ago. This one took the time to bite through a 8 mm nylon rope to get inside. I felt lucky with only 1 chicken down.

 

[Doodlemom63]

This looks wonderful!

I’m also a city gardener, although on a lot that is only 0.15 acre, including house, etc., so not a ton of land.

I’d caution that there are more urban predators than you might be aware of: raccoons, coyotes, feral cats, dogs allowed out at night, plus nuisance animals like rats and possums. If you don’t have one already, you might want to get a security camera aimed at your coop and see what’s actually out there, sniffing around.

Thank you my yard is fenced in, in addition to the run, yes I have security cameras with alerts for movement, anytime I hear it I send out my dogs. There are concrete stepping stones lined under the perimeter of the run and it’s completely covered by chicken wire and secured and in see,,

 

[Doodlemom63]

I live on another continent where we have less predators. Foxes, polecats and weasels are the only ones who live or come within cities. Normally they come in the night or early morning.

I live on 500 m2 (1/8 acre) without a fence in a town/small city. It has a municipality area behind it with blackberries, a natural spring and a creek. The chickens can roam there too.

Sometimes the people in my neighbourhood share video’s with foxes and weasels. Some report about missing rabbits or finding pieces of rabbits.
They are known as diggers. Going underneath fences, like dogs.

I had a fox in the chicken run about 5 years ago. This one took the time to bite through a 8 mm nylon rope to get inside. I felt lucky with only 1 chicken down.

I am aware of all the possibilities but honestly there is now completely 100% that something doesn’t slip through but I feel as long as I’m doing the best to my abilities and my prayers keep them as safe as possible. Here’s an example of my territorial 10lb solid black cat with her night glow collar, screenshot from my security camera for the chicken run…

 

[Tiny raptor]

I have a small flock, 9 hens and 1 roo. Only 1 hen is laying so far (still young), and they all get along great during the day... That being said, at night it is hell for my Orpington. No one wants to roost next to her, and one of my hens doesn't let anyone roost next to her unless it is 2 specific hens (her besties I guess?). But if any other hen is next to her, she goes for their feet and pecks at them until they move or get down, leaving her a good 3 - 4 feet of space to herself while the others crowd! I go in at night while they are settling and have to place the Orpington somewhere on the roost... Is this normal? The culprit is for sure the top hen as well.