My coop is big ish, 40x30x10. Ish.
I’ve got 11 hens on one side with my primary rooster, and 14 pullets on the other side with my secondary rooster. The coop is completely open, (on the inside) the sides are divided by big window above a shelf. And another door. I leave both the door and window open so the chickens can move about freely in the coop. First my secondary rooster moved to the primary’s side. The roosters get along so that’s not an issue. (He’s got the hots for one of my big hens, and sleeps beside of her). A couple nights later 2 pullets migrated over to the primary’s side, the next night 2 more. And then another. They all seem to be trickling over there. I’ve got plenty of roosts, so that’s not a problem. I just don’t understand why they’re doing that. Both sides are the same, same litter, fans, windows. Predators aren’t able to get into one side more easily than the other. The reason I’ve got the coop as big as I do, is because I wanted them to have space. (Half my flock are bantams so there’s plenty of room). And instead of spreading out they’re all smooshed up together. I have to dig through big booty hens to find my bantam rooster! ( he doesn’t seem to mind). All my chickens are on one side of the wall. Most of my roosts aren’t being used. It’s 75 degrees at night here, so they are not cold.
Are my pullets following the rooster? Or is it monkey see monkey do? “Everyone else is over there, I’m going too”. It’s fine whatever they do, I’m just curious if this is normal behavior?
FYI my pullets are 5 months old ish. My hens are two years.
I’ve got 11 hens on one side with my primary rooster, and 14 pullets on the other side with my secondary rooster. The coop is completely open, (on the inside) the sides are divided by big window above a shelf. And another door. I leave both the door and window open so the chickens can move about freely in the coop. First my secondary rooster moved to the primary’s side. The roosters get along so that’s not an issue. (He’s got the hots for one of my big hens, and sleeps beside of her). A couple nights later 2 pullets migrated over to the primary’s side, the next night 2 more. And then another. They all seem to be trickling over there. I’ve got plenty of roosts, so that’s not a problem. I just don’t understand why they’re doing that. Both sides are the same, same litter, fans, windows. Predators aren’t able to get into one side more easily than the other. The reason I’ve got the coop as big as I do, is because I wanted them to have space. (Half my flock are bantams so there’s plenty of room). And instead of spreading out they’re all smooshed up together. I have to dig through big booty hens to find my bantam rooster! ( he doesn’t seem to mind). All my chickens are on one side of the wall. Most of my roosts aren’t being used. It’s 75 degrees at night here, so they are not cold.
Are my pullets following the rooster? Or is it monkey see monkey do? “Everyone else is over there, I’m going too”. It’s fine whatever they do, I’m just curious if this is normal behavior?
FYI my pullets are 5 months old ish. My hens are two years.
because there will be that one hen who decides her personal bubble takes up 5-6 feet of roost space. Looks over at my head hen Holly
Fortunately, she has chilled a tiny bit in her old age - she only wants 2-3 feet now sigh.
