why do my 4 barred rocks start making a lot of noise before they go into the coop for the night?

[RE1947]

I'm very new to raising chickens and I have four barred rocks that are about 6-7 weeks old. I have noticed that about 20-30 minutes before they go into the coop for the night that they get much noisier. Any one know why?

Also, they have started to run at each other and sort of bump one another and then come face to face with their bodies fully extended, they don't fight so I'm guessing it is to establish a pecking order? I have so much to learn

 

[junebuggena]

You're right about the pecking order behavior. My 6 barred Rocks are almost 6 months old now and still argue and gripe about bed time.

 

[RE1947]

I figured this was normal behavior so thanks for reinforcing my questions. Also, they go into the coop but just sit beside the door unless I put them on the roost. If I do that they stay there all night (as evidenced by the poop piles). Is that just because of their young age? I always thought that chickens like to go to the highest place to roost at night?

 

[junebuggena]

Mine weren't using the roosts at night until about 14 to 16 weeks old. Your's are still just babies. Give them time, they'll roost eventually.

 

[RE1947]

Thanks for the great information.

 

[chynasparks]

I have 2 of the sweetest barred rock girls. Just last evening I went into the run and sat down on their roost bar (yah it can take the weight haha). Elizabeak jumped up beside me and sat there. She let me pet her like a puppy. My other barred rock Lucy is almost as friendly. I have 2 RIRs and on Easter Egger. They are all friendly but not as much. I haven't seen any bickering between them all, nothing out of the ordinary. When I read about your episodes of chest bumping I thought rooster. They chest bump. Do you have roosters in the flock?

 

[shortgrass]

That's the first thing I thought too..chest bumping? Roo? Hmmm

I have 7. They are my favorite, hands down...and i have 9 other breeds to pick from lol.. They have the most of intriguing personalities Trying to remember what they acted like as chicks... I had one that I just KNEW was a roo... Nope, she us now top hen in the order, call her "Floppy" because he comb goes almost over her eyes lol; she always was right there if I was feeding, taking pictures etc. Liked it in my shoulder... She's my best layer and follows me all over the place.. The other 6 follow unless they can't fly over the fence.(4 are flyers and free range, the other 3 get stuck in the run)...

They always picked on everybody else, like a little "gang"... A little thug gang

They are VERY vocal, always squealing or grumbling, talking while they forage; they call to each other at night at " bedtime" pretty much to say "its bedtime, everybody in."

They started roosting pretty much as soon as they trusted their wings..oh, 8 weeks maybe? And then it was a big fight every night because my Anconas USED to get the top roost...they gave up and now sleep in the trees lol...

My top hen sleeps snuggled next to my rooster on top of the nesting boxes, everybody else gets the top roost.

I wouldn't trade my BRs for ANYthing, in fact, I've culled better birds in order to keep them

 

[junebuggena]

All of my chickens did the chest bumping and trying to jump on top of each other as chicks. I only have one boy.

 

[ChickenMammX4]

Mine did the chest bump as chicks. I have all girls.

 

[RE1947]

I'm hoping mine are all hens, can't have roo's where I live. They are so entertaining to watch, running back and forth in the 20 foot run I added to their coop. That's where I noticed the chest bump behavior. I ordered some colored leg bands so that I can tell them apart. I made the mistake of giving them mealworms as treats so now every time I go near the coop they get all excited. To get them used to being handled I pick them up and feed them their treats but being that they pretty much look the same sometimes I think I feed one twice and another nothing. So to fix this problem they will each get a different colored leg band.