What breeds get along best with Buff Orphington?

[aart]

Coop is 40 sq feet inside

That's tight for 6 birds in your climate.

I don’t think space is a issue.

I do. Even if they have a nice big weather proof run,
flock contention often starts in the coop.

Like this......

And I have watched them perch for the night...and it’s like they don’t want her sharing the roost. She gets up there and they pick at her head.

 

[PepsiCatt]

yo i have 17 chickens

and i live in TN

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I recently lost my precious Buff Orpington at almost 2 years old. Just thinking back, the flock that she belonged to is my best flock. They get along better than any of my other 5 flocks. I've never had a behavioral issue with them even whenever they didn't have adequate space. Darla, my BO, was in a flock of 5. Her flockmates are 2 SLWyandotte's and 2 Barred Rocks. The SLW's are at the top of the pecking order, Darla was in the middle and then the BR's. This mix of breeds worked out really well here.

I was too lazy and failed to read the entire thread before posting. I just wanted to edit and say that @aart is extremely knowledgeable with this subject (amongst many other things)

 

[MIgardengal]

That's tight for 6 birds in your climate.


I do. Even if they have a nice big weather proof run,
flock contention often starts in the coop.

Like this......

I’m surprised because we gave them double the recommended allowances on space in the coop. A hobby farm article we read before we got hens said 3-4 sq feet per bird in the coop. So we felt 6sq feet per bird was generous.

Unfortunately, the coop can’t be changed now. Unless we go through the city ordinance permit application again. We could easily make a “non permanent”addition to the outdoor run to make it larger. Like putting up some snow fence.

My question is why now? Why would it be fine all winter? When they were literally in just the coop (I left the hatch open but they didn’t go out most days in the winter). There was no bullying then.

You would think being in the nice run outside now they would be like “freedom”!!! And be less crabby.

 

[aart]

So we felt 6sq feet per bird was generous.

Apologies, I miscalculated.
I still wouldn't try to add a single bird.

My question is why now? Why would it be fine all winter? When they were literally in just the coop (I left the hatch open but they didn’t go out most days in the winter). There was no bullying then.

They are getting bigger....it's spring and hormones are surging...maybe the Orp is thinking about going broody, thus acting differently and drawing attention.

 

[MIgardengal]

Apologies, I miscalculated.
I still wouldn't try to add a single bird.


They are getting bigger....it's spring and hormones are surging...maybe the Orp is thinking about going broody, thus acting differently and drawing attention.

If you want to feel free to message me, any other recommendations you might have...To help stop the bullying. This is a new learning curve for us, and we have loved every min of having our hens until this all started.

I have read books on chickens but this is our first go at chicken keeping. And we don’t know many people that have them up here. Were in the Upper Peninsula btw. Just a few minutes away from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I see your also from MI?

 

[Mamatomany123]

Sometimes chickens just start bullying. I had one who started biting the other hens and me after a year of being fine. We rehomed her. If you want to add new chicks to your flock then in suggest adding a few, not just 1. We've added 4 new chicks and made sure they had plenty of hiding places in the run once we integrated. Those 4 still hang oit with eachother as their own little flock.

 

[aart]

any other recommendations you might have...To help stop the bullying.

Was thinking it would be good to see some pics of your coop(inside and out) and the run.
Would you post some here in this thread?

Were in the Upper Peninsula btw. Just a few minutes away from Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. I see your also from MI?

Yep, way down below the bridge, but have spent time up dere over the years...skiing, hiking, and camping.

 

[MIgardengal]

Was thinking it would be good to see some pics of your coop(inside and out) and the run.
Would you post some here in this thread?


Yep, way down below the bridge, but have spent time up dere over the years...skiing, hiking, and camping.

Was thinking it would be good to see some pics of your coop(inside and out) and the run.
Would you post some here in this thread?


Yep, way down below the bridge, but have spent time up dere over the years...skiing, hiking, and camping.

I just went out and re-measured:
my run is 7x10 feet so 70sq feet so 11.6 sq feet per bird

My coop is 7 x 4.5 feet so interior is 31.5 sq feet which makes it 5.25 feet per bird.

Should I be adding perches in the run? I’ll try to catch a video but I think Nugget eggs it on because she does this “cluck-cluck-cluck-and run” thing whenever she is anywhere near the two main bullies. Funny too that the bullies aren’t the top dogs. They are mid of the pack I think..

 

[aart]

My coop is 7 x 4.5 feet so interior is 31.5 sq feet which makes it 5.25 feet per bird.

So the end of the roost is showing in that 3rd pic...and is 4.5 feet long?
Multiple roosts can help with RoostTimeRumble issues.
They should have 12" of roost length per bird.....and some extra can be good for fly space space and pecking order issues.

Would like to see more of the coop layout inside.