Our Pullets Stopped Roosting!??

[Enchanted1s]

We have two pullets that were broody raised here with us. They are about 4 months old now. The broody hen quit caring for them (or being nice to them) at around 6 weeks. I built my coop with a removable wall in the middle for integrating new ones. That seemed to work OK - the babies would roost in their half and the older 7 were a little cramped in the other half. Then I removed the wall to give everyone more room. The older ones would chase the babies out every night - I would have to be there at bed time to get them in. They stopped staying on their perches and started sleeping on the floor of the coop. It has been about a month they have been sleeping in the floor.

What should we do? I know the bigger ones still pick on the little ones in the coop. During the day, the pullets pretty much keep to themselves.

 

[azygous]

It sounds like your coop may be too cramped for the pullets to find space away from the adults. It's normal for them to be bullied, but you do need to intervene because the longer you allow this to go on, the more entrenched the pullets will become in their roles as the picked on.

You can try refereeing at roosting time. Repetition will instill new habits. Place the pullets on the perch at the far end where they were roosting when younger. When an adult even so much as makes a move in their direction, give that bully a swift poke on their back. Keep doing it each time she makes a move toward the pullets.

If this isn't working, you can place partitions at intervals on the perch. If chickens that have issues with one another can't see their rival or object of torment, they usually settle down.

These Welsummer pullets squabbled every night at roosting time. After hanging these partitions over their perch to separate them, all was peaceful.

 

[Enchanted1s]

It sounds like your coop may be too cramped for the pullets to find space away from the adults. It's normal for them to be bullied, but you do need to intervene because the longer you allow this to go on, the more entrenched the pullets will become in their roles as the picked on.

You can try refereeing at roosting time. Repetition will instill new habits. Place the pullets on the perch at the far end where they were roosting when younger. When an adult even so much as makes a move in their direction, give that bully a swift poke on their back. Keep doing it each time she makes a move toward the pullets.

If this isn't working, you can place partitions at intervals on the perch. If chickens that have issues with one another can't see their rival or object of torment, they usually settle down.

These Welsummer pullets squabbled every night at roosting time. After hanging these partitions over their perch to separate them, all was peaceful.View attachment 1962092

Thanks for the reply @azygous and the divider idea. I WAS going out every night and putting the babies in their corner, and shewing off all the hens, every night for at least a week or two, but as soon as I stopped - back to the floor! There is just enough room for everyone, but the babies don't stand up for themselves and once the big girls knock them off - they stay down. I think I will try the dividers. Thanks Again

 

[aart]

The broody hen quit caring for them (or being nice to them) at around 6 weeks. I built my coop with a removable wall in the middle for integrating new ones. That seemed to work OK - the babies would roost in their half and the older 7 were a little cramped in the other half. Then I removed the wall to give everyone more room.

Did you put up the wall when the broody weaned the chicks?

 

[Enchanted1s]

Did you put up the wall when the broody weaned the chicks?

I believe it was a bit after that when I put up the wall. The Broody and babies have their own maternity ward. Mom left them at about 6 weeks and returned to the main coop. I let the babies stay in the maternity ward until they were a little bigger then moved them to their half of the big coop as it is built better and warmer. After a couple of weeks, I removed the wall, and helped the babies keep their spot in the corner (perched) for at least a week or two. I had to take a trip at the end of Oct. so I quite babying them and let them fend for themselves - they have been on the floor almost every night since.

 

[trumpeting_angel]

Is there room for more roosting space? Do they have enough now? Maybe some roost alternatives would get them off the floor.

 

[aart]

I believe it was a bit after that when I put up the wall. The Broody and babies have their own maternity ward. Mom left them at about 6 weeks and returned to the main coop. I let the babies stay in the maternity ward until they were a little bigger then moved them to their half of the big coop as it is built better and warmer. After a couple of weeks, I removed the wall, and helped the babies keep their spot in the corner (perched) for at least a week or two. I had to take a trip at the end of Oct. so I quite babying them and let them fend for themselves - they have been on the floor almost every night since.

I would have gotten the broody and chicks back in with the flock a week or so after hatch...that's the biggest advantage of having a broody raise chicks.

Agrees that more roosts might help.

 

[Mimi13]

It sounds like your coop may be too cramped for the pullets to find space away from the adults. It's normal for them to be bullied, but you do need to intervene because the longer you allow this to go on, the more entrenched the pullets will become in their roles as the picked on.

You can try refereeing at roosting time. Repetition will instill new habits. Place the pullets on the perch at the far end where they were roosting when younger. When an adult even so much as makes a move in their direction, give that bully a swift poke on their back. Keep doing it each time she makes a move toward the pullets.

If this isn't working, you can place partitions at intervals on the perch. If chickens that have issues with one another can't see their rival or object of torment, they usually settle down.

These Welsummer pullets squabbled every night at roosting time. After hanging these partitions over their perch to separate them, all was peaceful.View attachment 1962092

Carol, what did you make those partitions out of? I am going to have to do something like that, but using heavy cloth. With all the molting going on, the nighttime ritual has gotten pretty bad. Some of my “naked” girls don’t want to go to the normal roost. I made a new roosting spot for them, but guess what? It has been taken over by the more senior girls. Ugh! Chickens!

I was also hoping the patriots would also provide more warmth during the colder months.

 

[aart]

These Welsummer pullets squabbled every night at roosting time. After hanging these partitions over their perch to separate them, all was peaceful.

These always make me think of 'mail slots'.

 

[azygous]

Carol, what did you make those partitions out of? I am going to have to do something like that, but using heavy cloth. With all the molting going on, the nighttime ritual has gotten pretty bad. Some of my “naked” girls don’t want to go to the normal roost. I made a new roosting spot for them, but guess what? It has been taken over by the more senior girls. Ugh! Chickens!

I was also hoping the patriots would also provide more warmth during the colder months.

Mine were made from plastic backed canvas, but you can use feed sacks at zero cost.