It's not the length of the roosts that's important when integrating. It's can they roost without being attacked by the others. I'll look at the photos, those might help, but in your that it doesn't sound like you can put up a roost where they can be far enough away from the others. A 4' x 6' coop is great for 3 chickens but is really small for 9. That is the big part of your problem.
It sounds like this is a small elevated coop and fairly short. That's why the slanted roof is restricting adding a roost. It's fine for three hens but I want a walk-in coop for nine. It just makes life so much easier.
If they don't sleep on the roosts, where do they sleep when you lock them in with the others? Do they get attacked there? Chickens don't have to roost. They are not going to become ill or crippled if they don't sleep on roosts.
It sounds like you are still having to put them in that coop every night? That's because they are scared of the three hens, they expect to be pecked if they go in. If the coop were big enough they could get in and to a safe place to sleep they could be trained to go in by themselves. You may be able to do that if you are consistent on putting them in every night but it may not be easy.
So what can you do? As long as no one is getting injured, keep doing what you are. My goal in integration is that no one gets injured. The rest can be worked out later.
Do you consider the run predator proof? Consider digging, climbing, and flying predators. If it is predator proof, let them sleep in the run for now.
You mentioned raising the roof. If you can create enough room under that slanted roof so you can really separate the roosts that could help a lot. A lot of that could depend on what your nests look like and your openings. I'd want them on each end of the 6 feet length. Probably not a practical solution. I'd be OK with one 4' roost for six chickens in this situation. That should be enough.
Getting rid of a few of yours won't really help the problem. It's not a square feet per chicken problem or a linear length of roost space problem. The coop is just not big enough to get the separation they need. So it's get rid of all of them if you go that route.
Your father's 3 hens are aging and probably laying eggs. Would he be willing to let them go if you gave him some or all of yours? Probably not right now, especially because yours aren't laying yet. But the older hens' productivity will probably drop after this year's molt so he might want some young pullets next spring since they will probably lay much better. I'm not sure what winters will be like in your part of Utah but if the run is not available to them for periods of time and they all have to stay in that tiny coop together, you are looking at problems. For three hens it should be fine. It will be tight for six. I would not want to face a winter where they are stuck in the coop with nine.
Good luck! Sounds like thigs were OK but then life threw a mess at you.
It sounds like this is a small elevated coop and fairly short. That's why the slanted roof is restricting adding a roost. It's fine for three hens but I want a walk-in coop for nine. It just makes life so much easier.
If they don't sleep on the roosts, where do they sleep when you lock them in with the others? Do they get attacked there? Chickens don't have to roost. They are not going to become ill or crippled if they don't sleep on roosts.
Does this mean they are 4 months old? If so, that's why they aren't laying yet and are still immature. Once they start laying they should be accepted as adults and be allowed on the roosts. Eight feet of roosts is plenty for 9 chickens once they reach maturity and integration is complete but not if they are only 8" apart. I'd look real hard on how to separate the roosts some more. My goal is 12" minimum separation, but that won't be enough until they mature. Until they mature they are not going to be sleeping on the roosts in that coop.I bought my 6 hens almost exactly 4 months ago
It sounds like you are still having to put them in that coop every night? That's because they are scared of the three hens, they expect to be pecked if they go in. If the coop were big enough they could get in and to a safe place to sleep they could be trained to go in by themselves. You may be able to do that if you are consistent on putting them in every night but it may not be easy.
That is totally normal if food and water is in the run. Mine leave the coop first thing every morning and only go back in at night or when they lay eggs. Otherwise they stay outside.They're only using the coop during the night to sleep (6'x4').
So what can you do? As long as no one is getting injured, keep doing what you are. My goal in integration is that no one gets injured. The rest can be worked out later.
Do you consider the run predator proof? Consider digging, climbing, and flying predators. If it is predator proof, let them sleep in the run for now.
You mentioned raising the roof. If you can create enough room under that slanted roof so you can really separate the roosts that could help a lot. A lot of that could depend on what your nests look like and your openings. I'd want them on each end of the 6 feet length. Probably not a practical solution. I'd be OK with one 4' roost for six chickens in this situation. That should be enough.
Getting rid of a few of yours won't really help the problem. It's not a square feet per chicken problem or a linear length of roost space problem. The coop is just not big enough to get the separation they need. So it's get rid of all of them if you go that route.
Your father's 3 hens are aging and probably laying eggs. Would he be willing to let them go if you gave him some or all of yours? Probably not right now, especially because yours aren't laying yet. But the older hens' productivity will probably drop after this year's molt so he might want some young pullets next spring since they will probably lay much better. I'm not sure what winters will be like in your part of Utah but if the run is not available to them for periods of time and they all have to stay in that tiny coop together, you are looking at problems. For three hens it should be fine. It will be tight for six. I would not want to face a winter where they are stuck in the coop with nine.
Good luck! Sounds like thigs were OK but then life threw a mess at you.