Integration and bullies

[Mrs. K]

One thing I see - is that the outside space does not have any clutter in it. It is just wide open, and even in the yard, every chicken can see every other chicken 100% of the time.

Adding platforms, mini walls, out side roosts - saw horses, ladders, pallets - kind of a jungle gym for chickens adds space where birds can get away from and out of sight of other birds. This can really make better use of space because it adds in the vertical, which is largely unused in your set up, from what I can tell.

Mrs K

 

[Sammster]

One thing I see - is that the outside space does not have any clutter in it. It is just wide open, and even in the yard, every chicken can see every other chicken 100% of the time.

Adding platforms, mini walls, out side roosts - saw horses, ladders, pallets - kind of a jungle gym for chickens adds space where birds can get away from and out of sight of other birds. This can really make better use of space because it adds in the vertical, which is largely unused in your set up, from what I can tell.

Mrs K

Thank you, Mrs K. It's not like that, now. This was when we first assembled it. We've added a few things - and DH just had some clearing work done at our campsite. I've asked him to save a nice "climbing branch" for my girls. I'll give some thought to "mini walls" ♡

 

[aart]

It's not like that, now.

Can you take some current pics?

 

[Sammster]

Current set up. I'm planning to move the playhouse outdoors, and attach it to the girls' chunnel, as a destination - then put a climbing tree where the playhouse was. I also want to add a climbing tree in the extention pen.

There's an upside-down tree root under this climbing structure that the girls love to rest behind. They feel safe there and have access on both sides.

The chunnel door is just behind the blue waterer you see hanging under the little coop.

This is the pen addition. There's access to the hospial/time-out coop on the left, with the removal of a short panel. The girls enjoy that space, but for now, I'm keeping the short panel in place so that I can quickly scoop up a bully and put her in, from the access door on the side you can't see.
I want to put a climbing tree in the corner I'm standing in to take this photo.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Current set up. I'm planning to move the playhouse outdoors, and attach it to the girls' chunnel, as a destination - then put a climbing tree where the playhouse was. I also want to add a climbing tree in the extention pen.
View attachment 3860803

There's an upside-down tree root under this climbing structure that the girls love to rest behind. They feel safe there and have access on both sides.
View attachment 3860804
The chunnel door is just behind the blue waterer you see hanging under the little coop.

View attachment 3860806
There's access to the hospial/time-out coop on the left, with the removal of a short panel. The girls enjoy that space, but for now, I'm keeping the short panel in place so that I can quickly scoop up a bully and put her in, from the access door on the side you can't see.
I want to put a climbing tree in the corner I'm standing in to take this photo.

That's a territory worth definitely. Very nice.

 

[Sammster]

Integration is going better. I did have to put one of the bullies in the time-out coop to hopefully break the behavior. She has had 3 days of seclusion, but she can see everyone. Since her separation, I've been able to open the gate between the 2 runs full-time. There have been a couple, small incidents, instigated by two of the other bully hens - but no harm came of them. I'm not quite sure how long to keep the worst offender separated. She seems to have adjusted well in the time-out coop and is even giving me eggs. I don't want to chance reintroducing her too soon and losing the progress we've made.

I was planning to remove the little playhouse from the run, this weekend. But the pullets have been enjoying it. I may hold of a little while. We'll see what kind of tree branch DH brings home from camp for them, and I'll decide. It's going to be a bit of a project, re-routing the chunnel and securing it to the playhouse.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Good to hear they are making progress.