What breeds get along best with Buff Orphington?

[rosemarythyme]

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.

x2. Your birds are still young and spring is in the air. Their hormones are changing with age and with the lengthening daylight hours.

I really don't think it's a breed issue. Even if you had a flock of all EEs you could still have an issue... or conversely you could have all different breeds and nothing happens at all. At this point I'd advise against adding any more bird(s) to the mix as you're already dealing with pecking order issues and frankly the run isn't big enough to be adding more birds (and doing a single integration is tougher).

As far as space, while you do meet the minimum recommendations on here, the run is very empty, so there's nothing for them to interact with and nowhere for a bullied bird to hide to get some relief. Additional space (which you mentioned was possible) and more importantly, clutter (which eats up floor space) might help bring some peace to the flock. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

 

[MIgardengal]

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.

Yes the roost you see in the photo inside runs the width of the coop and is 4.5 feet. I was worried about running it length wise because I have two windows for ventilation and I didn’t want to put it too close because of the cold weather here and risk frost bitten feet

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.

 

[MIgardengal]

x2. Your birds are still young and spring is in the air. Their hormones are changing with age and with the lengthening daylight hours.

I really don't think it's a breed issue. Even if you had a flock of all EEs you could still have an issue... or conversely you could have all different breeds and nothing happens at all. At this point I'd advise against adding any more bird(s) to the mix as you're already dealing with pecking order issues and frankly the run isn't big enough to be adding more birds (and doing a single integration is tougher).

As far as space, while you do meet the minimum recommendations on here, the run is very empty, so there's nothing for them to interact with and nowhere for a bullied bird to hide to get some relief. Additional space (which you mentioned was possible) and more importantly, clutter (which eats up floor space) might help bring some peace to the flock. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

Yes my run is totally empty. So I should prop a pallet against the outside run wall?

 

[aart]

Yes the roost you see in the photo inside runs the width of the coop and is 4.5 feet. I was worried about running it length wise because I have two windows for ventilation and I didn’t want to put it too close because of the cold weather here and risk frost bitten feet

Well, those windows could be closed in winter....cold climate ventilation is best done up high well above the roost, would be good to open up the ceiling and soffit areas.
Lack of roost length is definitely contributing to the bullying scenario.

Is the long window above the nests in the back of the coop(opposite the door)?
You could put a poop board and roost over the nests.

 

[aart]

So I should prop a pallet against the outside run wall?

See the link in @rosemarythyme post....lots of ideas there.
Is the run protected in winter?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Yes my run is totally empty. So I should prop a pallet against the outside run wall?

More than just a pallet, if possible. Though with the run size you'll need to keep your clutter smaller in scale so it doesn't eat up all the floor space.

Possible items would be a wood ladder, smaller patio chairs, old pots or crates.

Placement also matters. Items need to break up the space so I personally like putting things away from walls, so the chickens can go all the way around it as well as on top, under, etc. This also prevents chickens from getting cornered and attacked. I know my placement works because if I have to catch an unwilling chicken, they can evade me for a good while by going around and around all the obstacles.

 

[MIgardengal]

@rosemarythyme @aart

Ok! Next time I’m in the neighboring large city, I will go to a few thrift and antique shops and see if I can’t find a few things like that. I definitely can see a old wood ladder and a metal patio chair (that I can sit on and watch them!) being nice out there. I have a old bird bath I could put out there too.

I will also talk to the hubs and see if there is a way he can add another 2 feet of roost space somewhere...

I’ll keep you posted.