sunmanchicken127
In the Brooder
Hello!
Thanks to this group, I was able to successfully raise 6 healthy hens and they are absolutely gorgeous. However, some things have changed and I am hoping someone with more experience can have a suggestion.
I bought my 6 hens almost exactly 4 months ago just before moving to a new apartment. I then spent about $1,000 building them the ideal coop with plenty of space. This was supposed to be their long term home. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay there and had to move back with my parents. I wasn't able to take that coop with me either. I just couldn't afford the cost of a moving truck and I don't have anyone who would help me lift it out of the backyard.
My dad has a small flock of 3 (they're all 3+ years old) and a pretty large run for them. He also has a coop which can fit the chickens, although it's not very comfortable for them. The main problem lies in the roosting (I'll get to it). Introducing my hens wasn't too hard - all 6 know their place and completely avoid the 3 original chickens. It took about a week for them to co-exist, but they're still sorting it out and don't roam together. I still hear squables here and there and mine are honestly terrified of his 3 older hens. The run area is big enough for them to get away though, but not big enough where they can completely avoid them the entire day.
Now to the roosting. There is one 4 foot bar which sits comfortably in the coop. My chickens have NOT wanted to sleep in the coop, and when they try to share that bar they get pecked and bullied off. There isn't much space for another roost, but I put one in tonight anyway (another 4 ft, so 8ft total now) because I don't have any other options. But it's just too close to the other roost. The hens are nearly touching each other when on the two separate roosts. It would probably be fine if they were all buddies - but they're not. And I don't want my hens dealing with this stress any longer. They always fear the 3 older hens, they don't get to roost, they don't even like going into the coop at night after 2 weeks of putting them in at bedtime with a slow integration process. We aren't doing well financially. I am unemployed and building that original coop was all I could spare. So I find myself in this situation with zero budget, seemingly stressed chickens, and I feel guilty every moment knowing they went from living a perfect life in their old home to trying to force them into this new area where they're hated and can't even roost for the night. I would also like to add they aren't laying eggs, but I don't know if that's from stress or because they're still pretty young.
Do I just get rid of them? Do I wait longer to hope they integrate and can all roost together (I have lived here about 2 weeks)? Is it as bad as I think? Really any thoughts will help me figure this out. I wish I just had money so I could build them something new and comfortable, that would be the easiest option. But I don't. They're only using the coop during the night to sleep (6'x4'). Thanks everyone.
(also, the 3 older hens breeds - white leghorn, sapphire gem, RIR. my chickens are 2 Ameraucanas, 2 RIRs, 2 Barred Rocks)
Thanks to this group, I was able to successfully raise 6 healthy hens and they are absolutely gorgeous. However, some things have changed and I am hoping someone with more experience can have a suggestion.
I bought my 6 hens almost exactly 4 months ago just before moving to a new apartment. I then spent about $1,000 building them the ideal coop with plenty of space. This was supposed to be their long term home. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay there and had to move back with my parents. I wasn't able to take that coop with me either. I just couldn't afford the cost of a moving truck and I don't have anyone who would help me lift it out of the backyard.
My dad has a small flock of 3 (they're all 3+ years old) and a pretty large run for them. He also has a coop which can fit the chickens, although it's not very comfortable for them. The main problem lies in the roosting (I'll get to it). Introducing my hens wasn't too hard - all 6 know their place and completely avoid the 3 original chickens. It took about a week for them to co-exist, but they're still sorting it out and don't roam together. I still hear squables here and there and mine are honestly terrified of his 3 older hens. The run area is big enough for them to get away though, but not big enough where they can completely avoid them the entire day.
Now to the roosting. There is one 4 foot bar which sits comfortably in the coop. My chickens have NOT wanted to sleep in the coop, and when they try to share that bar they get pecked and bullied off. There isn't much space for another roost, but I put one in tonight anyway (another 4 ft, so 8ft total now) because I don't have any other options. But it's just too close to the other roost. The hens are nearly touching each other when on the two separate roosts. It would probably be fine if they were all buddies - but they're not. And I don't want my hens dealing with this stress any longer. They always fear the 3 older hens, they don't get to roost, they don't even like going into the coop at night after 2 weeks of putting them in at bedtime with a slow integration process. We aren't doing well financially. I am unemployed and building that original coop was all I could spare. So I find myself in this situation with zero budget, seemingly stressed chickens, and I feel guilty every moment knowing they went from living a perfect life in their old home to trying to force them into this new area where they're hated and can't even roost for the night. I would also like to add they aren't laying eggs, but I don't know if that's from stress or because they're still pretty young.
Do I just get rid of them? Do I wait longer to hope they integrate and can all roost together (I have lived here about 2 weeks)? Is it as bad as I think? Really any thoughts will help me figure this out. I wish I just had money so I could build them something new and comfortable, that would be the easiest option. But I don't. They're only using the coop during the night to sleep (6'x4'). Thanks everyone.
(also, the 3 older hens breeds - white leghorn, sapphire gem, RIR. my chickens are 2 Ameraucanas, 2 RIRs, 2 Barred Rocks)