Young rooster won't sleep inside

chickpack2024

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Hi chicken keepers! I have 9 chickens. 2 older hens (over 2 years), 6 pullets (17-19 weeks old) and 1 19 week-old rooster.

I have a "safe" coop that the chickens sleep in. It's not that large (maybe about 18 sq. feet, but has 3 rows of 2x4s--plenty of room for sleeping). They have a very large run, a space under the coop, and a secondary run I put them in sometimes, but for sleeping they just have that one place that is secure. We have talked about making a new or larger coop, but it's expensive to make a secure one, so we haven't done it yet.

They all have a little time in the afternoon for free-ranging.

My 18 week old rooster/cockerel does not go into the coop with the hens at sunset. All 8 go to sleep (some of them insist on sleeping in the nesting boxes, which I don't love) and he stays outside, even in the rain. I just had to run out at 8pm and put him in the coop with the rest of them (we do this every night, he tries to roost on top of the coop, which isn't safe).

Is there anything I can do besides expand the coop? It looks like so much room in there. The older chickens just go right in and get on a bar.

I thought I should add that the 2 older hens tend to bully him, and that could be part of his reluctance.
 
Hi. In order to keep bullying, feather pecking and other behavior problems to a minimum, it's recommemded to provide at least 4 sq ft of floor space per chicken in the coop they sleep in. An 18 sq ft coop by this standard is big enough for about 4 chickens. I'm sorry but you're very overpopulated for the space you're providing, and that's the reason for your problem. The hens bullying him is what's keeping him out of the coop.

How far apart are the roosts? Probably not far apart enough to give the cockerel room to have a safe space to himself. You may need to rehome him until you have a bigger coop.
 
And this is going to get worse. When those pullets get full size, which will be soon, there will even be less space. What seems like a lot of space, when chicks are small, rapidly becomes not enough space.

Being raised together, will do nothing for future behavior and will not counteract overcrowding. Even though they are getting along now, does not mean they will later. Chickens need space.

Do know that enough room for them in the daylight does nothing for too much crowding at night. Winter is coming, and the long dark night can cause a lot of ugly behavior.

Chickens won't wait for you to build later. My advice is sell half the pullets and the cockerel, and plan to expand next year. This will give you some money, reduce your feed bill and give a healthy flock for the winter. It is better to raise a few birds well, than a lot of birds poorly.

I think this will get worse.

Mrs K
 

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