I have eight hen of various breeds and ages and used to have all kinds of trouble at roosting time even though they had plenty of room on the highest bar it was still competitive. I put them in a new coop about a year ago and gave them two bars at the same height. Zero problem from that day on. Thanks. This works!
@knotqueen2419
Күн бұрын
I took your advice and built same-level roosting boards with lots of room in my coop. My hens huddle more in the winter and spread out more in the summer. Thank you for taking the time to do the research and posting this informative video.
@katsilbaugh2876
2 жыл бұрын
Research scientist high five 🙏 Thank you for your research based content! Love your stuff!!
@yuliadudina
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for being a chicken nerd! I found a lot of useful info on your website and youtube channel. I really appreciate that you took time to put it together.
@heatherhollander664
3 жыл бұрын
I love you posts, they make sense to me. Because I see them each as thinking feeling beings. They light up my days with laughter and joy.
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
Our girls are the love of our lives. hahahaha. And what pet poops breakfast for you? hehehe.
@holynyork7124
Жыл бұрын
You are rocking it. Ur calming voice is needed, thank u.
@angelasgreenarts9124
7 ай бұрын
Great info I’m Learning so much from you. Thanks
@udonocmee3225
2 жыл бұрын
From another nerd, glad I found your channel. I am just about to get chickens. I have a coop, I am building a run, and I have feeders, and I am building a watering system. Wish me luck.
@cpcahill1997
2 жыл бұрын
So happy I found your channel (I loooove your website!!). I totally agree, I'm fairly new to chickens (about a month) but I haven't seen any pecking order behaviors at all, they all happily share food, explore, forage and roost together :)) (oh we have 10 hens and 1 rooster)
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks for your kind words! Sounds like a great flock!
@PippiBarbieri
4 ай бұрын
I have two layers because a few older chickens hurt their legs when they jump off in the morning if it is over 2 or 3 feet high.
@gailsylva7945
2 жыл бұрын
I am so glad I found your channel! Love that you love research.
@brysonalden5414
2 жыл бұрын
Our present coop has two roosting bars at the same level, and I am building a bigger coop (chicken math is real!) and based on your input I am designing it with four 8 foot long roosting bars which will be the same distance from the floor. There's still squabbling in the present setup over who gets what seems to be the preferred spot, but I think introducing another variable by having different heights would be a mistake.
@arasyard
Жыл бұрын
I totally agree thats why I really designed my roosts at same level even if im a new chicken raiser upon learning about pecking order. I thought, if they have heirarchy then we can make their roost at the same height not to encourage that, right. Its like encouraging the more agressive hen to be more agressive. If we put them at the same level no one would act as the alpha, all of them are on the same level. I agree with the aggression, i noticed that when the chickens are hungry thats the time they peck a lot but when they finished eating all is well. So yeah, we really have to do extra effort to provide what they need as a chicken..to keep them busy and well fed
@cuicasqueeka3738
24 күн бұрын
I tend to agree with you about pecking orders. Don’t get me wrong some birds are more aggressive, at times, than others but I can’t discern a hierarchy among my first generation of chickens. I do have two pullets that I allowed one of my hens to hatch this past spring and they will eventually need to assimilate into the flock. I will be curious to see how that goes. They currently live separated but I allow all of them to forage together to get familiar with each other. However, I notice my two pullets prefer to forage together but away from the other hens and my roster. They interact minimally. I enjoy your videos. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.
@anne501s66
10 ай бұрын
This makes so much sense to me because we have 6 chickens in our back garden (UK) and there is no 1 top bird. I've spent hours watching them trying to figure out who the top bird is but as you say they have very complex relationships with each other. Thank you for the video 😊
@aftonhalters
2 жыл бұрын
I love your style :D a load of crap.... that is just what I was thinking in my third year of chickens... raising 2 flocks. I also have not seen anything other than one hen is a JERK.... and then, another takes its turn.... also, I have ordered 3 raffia bags from amazon. they are now OUT :D I would have liked 5. 2 boxes they seem to not like so I will wait and see. Again, LOVE your style!!!!
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks Zoie - hope your chickens love the raffia. Most chickens do have neophobia when you introduce something new. They will stick with what they're used to, sometimes for a very long time. When I tested a bunch of nesting materials, my girls were used to using sand previously, and so when I first started testing, they would only lay in the sand. As time went on, sand became one of their least favorite.
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
IMHO, you need at least one jerk or more aggressive girl in your flock. She may be a bit of a bully but when an intruder comes? She is the one to sound the alarm and get angry the most. This noisy and aggressive girl may save your flocks lives? We have a neighborhood cat who likes to jump on our fence. And she is the one who squawks the most. While we are not concerned about the neighborhood cat. We know she will make a lot of noise if there are other predators. Note: Our girls are all free range in our backyard.
@identityrefused486
10 күн бұрын
I haven't really seen a pecking order with my chickens. They all get along great. I only have 3 chickens and had 4 for a while until I had to rehome one because she wasn't doing well in the heat. Chickens absolutely get aggressive when you have to mix existing flocks. Eventually they get along but even with tons of space food things to do they still get aggressive. Been through that too.
@zanfasoabi7628
Ай бұрын
Great video. I want to share my experience with both types of roosting bars. I did not notice a difference between them. In both cases I noticed pecking. I prefer the staggered bars because its more space efficient though.
@ghostridergale
Жыл бұрын
I’m glad you said that about the staggered roosting bars. I have a pretty large coop 12’X12’ and have a staggered roost in the center of the back of the coop on hinges that I can fold up against the ceiling when cleaning so it’s out of the way. I have 44 chickens that keeps growing every year. I also have two other 6’ long roosts high on the wall of the coop on the side. Now all my chickens still go to the highest roosts they can get on and the lower roosts are always empty. I think if I ever get around to changing the roosts, I will run a continuous roost across the back and on both sides just short of their nesting boxes and put up narrow ladders for the chickens to be able to get up on the higher roosts. Only thing I’m concerned about is chickens jumping off of the high roosts if they’re blocked in by other chickens where the chicken can’t get to the ladders to get down? They be jumping roughly 5 ft and I don’t know if that distance could hurt then landing on the floor or not? They sort of attempt to fly down flapping their wings. So it’s not like their falling to the floor! Whether their landing soft enough to not hurt their feet I’m not sure? But least so far I have had any chickens with feet problems yet and I know not all the chickens use the staggered roosts to get down to the floor! Maybe I’m worrying when I don’t need to? Update: I now have 55 chickens in my 12’X12’ coop with 6’ high ceiling. The roost I had was no longer enough space for all the chickens. I ended up putting a high roost that surrounds the inside of the coop with different ramps for the chickens to get up and down without having to jump down. Still, some will jump or fly off the roosts. Being I have large doors on the back of the coop, some chickens even fly off the roost and fly right out the back doors and on to the ground! Some chickens actually fly pretty well. Watched one chicken fly from a standing spot next to my dog kennel and flew up 6 ft and landed on the kennel roof! Since many of the chickens like being up high, I have built some 12” wide boards that attach between trees least 6’ up in the air. Keep track where the chickens are or you might get pooped on from above! 😂 admittedly it’s not the first bird that’s got me from mid air either and it wasn’t chickens!
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
Just speaking from experience. One of our girls developed bumble foot (staph infection) because she was landing from a higher spot. However, we did make the mistake of making cement floor as a landing spot. Which I learned is not good for chicken feet for landing. We are still working on her bumble foot and it is been about 3 months now. She has healed some and one more black spot under her left foot pad. Although, we do think she is a little bit more sickly and not is big as the rest. Yours may not be prone to sickness?
@Justfun4437
Жыл бұрын
If there is no pecking order, how do I deal with a bully chicken. She pecks the other chickens for food, treats, and water if they are near her and she incessantly pecks them at night when they go to roost as if she’s saying get off my roost. She will not back down and she is torturing my other very docile and submissive chickens and I’m at my wits end
@amandadelong6972
Жыл бұрын
The only pecking order I have in my flock are the chickens move out if the way of the guineas. So I guess the guineas are at the top, and then the chickens. But there is no bullying because I will peck them back with my hand if notice any hard pecking, or if it gets bloody and won't stop no matter what I do, the bully is either rehomed or culled. I don't tolerate bullies. Hahaha
@aliciaspears7847
Жыл бұрын
I have literally never heard this before. What a revelation !
@jamesriley9086
2 жыл бұрын
Have you done any studies on how injured sick or old and decrepit birds tend to be attacked by the others. I won't say in every case (because often I scoop them up for intensive care) but several times I have been helping one to get to water or food or sunshine whatever and aparently because she is deficient the others or some of the others seem to want to attack them one recently had a bleeding comb before I noticed and got back to rescue her Sorry this is long and on a older video but it has been on my mind redcently and I really love your videos and the information therein
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
This is a great question, James. I've seen this too and have some ideas. I'll make a short video on it but probably won't get around to it for awhile. :)
@jamesriley9086
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefeatherbrain thanks I can't wait!
@ambertrevors2709
Жыл бұрын
I liked this. I’m about to add a third bar. My bigger girls keep beating up my new ladies when they go in the coop. There is plenty of room, resources and they free range. I also have all docile friendly breeds 😩 I wish they would stop picking on the three. The three stay away from the flock all day and even keep roosting in the trees. I’m hoping once they start laying they will join the group. I’ve only noticed this issue when introducing bigger birds. When I raise chicks together there seems to not really be much aggression
@JD-dh7bk
11 ай бұрын
I have a problem with my flock at night. All my roost bars are the same height. Theres plenty of the bars as well. However EVERY NIGHT the chickens fight. Pecking, chasing, knocking each other off bars. I don't want them to get hurt. I don't know what to do or what I've done wrong. I was hoping at some point this would stop. I'll be adding new pullets next month and feel like I've might have made a mistake. The pullets are 2months old living in my house. I planned on moving them to the coop next month.
@Donnybrook10
9 ай бұрын
we have an ameraucana (Rosie) who is blind in one eye from birth. She gets startled when another chicken approaches her from the blind side. I have 2 chickens who attack her when she panics. They go out of their way to harass her so I need to keep her in her own place with other docile hens. I have (2) 25x10 connected covered runs so they have lots of space. I also have two separate coops with plenty of space and plenty of roosting bars on the same level. There is no stress in their environment. Multiple feeders and waterers at all times. I believe it's Rosie's out of the ordinary response to surprise that triggers the others to go after her. She is perceived as weak and they capitalize on it.
@thefeatherbrain
8 ай бұрын
I have noticed that whenever any chicken acts a little "crazy," the others will attack her. I think the flighty, nervous behavior irritates the others. It's like they just can't help themselves.
@templenaff5598
Жыл бұрын
I have 5 coops and I changed all of my roosting bars to all the same level and the only aggression I see anymore is if one hen gets in next to the rooster and the girl that usually sleeps next to him gets mad. Then there is some fighting until the usual one gets her space back.
@tinab7791
Жыл бұрын
I have a couple of orpingtons and they don't seem to want to go up onto the roost bar. When they do get up there, they're afraid to jump down in the morning. I was considering putting in a lower roost bar for them but now I'm not sure if that's the right thing to do. The other four girls really like the high roost that is there, and I didn't want to take that from them, but maybe that's the answer is to just make everybody sleep on a lower roost.
@silverdesert2970
3 жыл бұрын
Nice video, thanks. What size roost bar do you recommend for heavy breeds? 2x4, flat size facing up, 2x4 narrow side facing up, 2x3 with flat side up, or 2x2?
@TheRodgerB
Жыл бұрын
2x2
@catlinhollow
Жыл бұрын
By total accident, my first chicken coop had same level roosting bars. I worked with what I had on hand to convert an old shed. It worked well. I'm getting back into chickens keeping and have just built a new coop. I didn't even consider staggered roosts when planning it out.
@hollyt9147
10 ай бұрын
Thank you for this. I do have a top hen but she is not mean or anything like a pecking order. The only thing that she does is make sure everybody goes to the coop and go to bed. She also put those that cause trouble in place and we do have 3 in the flock that likes to cause trouble. No bloodshed or bad things done. Just a slight peck or flare of neck feathers is all it takes. Now on the roost bars--I do not see any pecking order on that. All are fine and top hen is last as she pushes everybody to roost. I think my top hen is a good leader. :D.
@thefeatherbrain
10 ай бұрын
She sounds wonderful! :)
@PippiBarbieri
4 ай бұрын
In the winter time, some breeds love to sleep on top of each other, they like crowded spaces!
@thefeatherbrain
4 ай бұрын
So true - chickens are such individuals. I have some in winter who like to snuggle with each other, and others who get ultra cranky. The advice given here is my general advice, but as you have experienced yourself, all chickens are different. :)
@heatherhollander664
3 жыл бұрын
Bri I have staggered some of my roosting bars to utilize some of the vertical space until I can increase the run size, I also have multiple aged chickens from 2.5, to 6 months. I'm very new at this and I thought the lower bars for the younger beacuse easier to reach. But honestly they I'll hop around to different levels at this point. The main run ( not including the smaller run that go with the coop ) is 6l X 8w X 4h. Do you think I should but the bars more evenly in the run? I have 17 chickens 1 Roo. They all are getting along at this point. Even though they have 3 diffrent coop options to sleep in most of the time they all shove themselves into the one coop at night.
@heatherhollander664
3 жыл бұрын
Also I have multiple breeds but they all seem to get along well, but I've been careful to avoid aggressive breeds.
@thefeatherbrain
3 жыл бұрын
Hi Heather, The benefit of staggered roosting bars is that in a small setup, they do make better use of the space. I wouldn't bother changing the roosting bars if they're working well for your flock. And it sounds like you have staggered roosts in your run too? Hopping around those probably gives them something to do during the day. Having staggered roosts in the run isn't the same as in the coop. In the coop, they're all trying to roost for safety at night, unlike in the run. I think different level perches in the run is good for daytime use. Either way, no reason to change your setup if it's working well for your flock. I've had that same problem with too many chickens shoving themselves into a small coop, rather than dividing into two. But as long as it's voluntary, I just let them do what they want. :) Bri
@heatherhollander664
3 жыл бұрын
Thank you, Bri. Yeah it is voluntary, silly chicks make me laugh.
@mikecrow3172
Жыл бұрын
We have ordered Sexlinks and Easter eggers. How much head room do they need or how much room between the roosting bar and the ceiling of the coup?
@gilesc5870
Жыл бұрын
I'm learning so much from your videos! I've been looking for the one you mention here about breeds that are compatible, but can't seem to find it. Can you please provide a link?
@robindee7577
3 жыл бұрын
great info... thanks
@TearDrop455
Жыл бұрын
Thanks for your knowledge! Question: I have 4 buff Orpingtons ( 2wks old). How high can they jump, fly, hop… up onto roosting bars? How high should we place them and how far apart and how far off the wall? Also, should they be removable?
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
I'll try to chime in. I have read that roosting bars should NOT be more than 20 inches of the ground. Just speaking from experience. One of our girls developed bumble foot (staph infection) because she was landing from a higher spot. However, we did make the mistake of making cement floor as a landing spot. Which I learned is not good for chicken feet for landing. We are still working on her bumble foot and it is been about 3 months now. She has healed some and one more black spot under her left foot pad. Although, we do think she is a little bit more sickly and not is big as the rest. Yours may not be prone to sickness? We have another girl who likes to fly to the high branches of our backyard trees about 4-5 feet off the ground and then chicken walks to the higher, slimmer branches of the tree. She is the boldest and the most adventurous of them all. She is just a White Leghorn. Apparently, she doesn't get the fix from our man-made roosting bar in the coop? Hahaha.
@TearDrop455
10 ай бұрын
@@carmichaelization Thanks for responding 👍😊
@TearDrop455
22 күн бұрын
@@davinasquirrel7672 Thank you 😊
@sherrygrubb2948
Жыл бұрын
I started with 10 chicks; 3 were killed by dogs. All of the remaining 7 would not only sit on the same roost bar, they would sit so close, many times I couldn't see tell how many were there! My cope roof is shed-style with a 4" ledges on each side which have hardware cloth on the sides & bottom. The 5, full grown chickens, including rooster, will roost in that area. The ledge is 5' long, & they cram themselves in about a 12" section. Sometimes even cramming their body underneath another chicken's wing! They are in super safe coop & run. Blows that whole theory of chickens needing space!
@dgeorge
Жыл бұрын
I have two red laced Wyandottes and one polish and yes they protect and give each other shit but nobody is hurt or getting picked on they have been together since a few days old !
@CarisaWalcott
2 жыл бұрын
Love your videos. Please post more on runs
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
Thanks, Carisa. Is there anything in particular on runs you want to know about? Predator-proofing? Size? Bedding? I feel like I could do several hours of material on the topic of runs... :)
@CarisaWalcott
2 жыл бұрын
@@thefeatherbrain all of it lol I'm in a city, I'm not into building stuff. So, I need info on... easiest way, maybe I should have someone build one in my backyard? Some people use electric poultry netting, but that's not going to prevent hawks? I just am not sure how much safety I need during the day. If there's a way to have a run where I don't have to build ut myself...
@danthiesen4778
Жыл бұрын
I am still trying to get more of my chickens to roost on my bars, I have a couple but I need more out of my 59 to change the tide because they like to cram in a corner by my man door, they really pack themselves in there
@rosewood9839
Жыл бұрын
I’ve had to move the food and water. My lavender Orpington has to show the others where it is. They don’t like change! 😊🐓
@dgeorge
Жыл бұрын
My three ladies cuddle all in one corner and on a basket and perch combined lol
@a_driannelynn
4 ай бұрын
I don't have enough space in their Coop to do horizontal bars, I have to do staggered and they fuss with each other every evening
@tamraryals3381
7 ай бұрын
What would you say is a good height for roosting bars?
@debopapalucious9444
2 жыл бұрын
My chickens sleep on the floor near the opening of the automatic door Why are they doing this and how can I break this habit
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
How old are they? Most likely they have not yet learned how to roost. They will eventually start roosting on their own - this may take weeks or even months. You can also manually move them to the roosting bars after dark if you want to speed up this process. Either choice is fine. If they are older chickens and this is a new behavior (they were roosting and now they're not), it's possible you have mites on your roosting bars - do a google search to learn more. Best, Bri
@murraymadness4674
Жыл бұрын
I read on another youtube that the coop was too dark and they could not SEE the bars at night, and once they put in a little light, they all roosted on the bars.
@maxsands3861
Жыл бұрын
Every staggered roosting bar video I've seen has the top bar way too close to the wall. The result is poop all over the wall of course. I think they all want to be on the top bar not just for safety but because they love each other and watch over one another.
@ghostridergale
Жыл бұрын
Actually it depends on the chickens whether or not they want to love one another or not? I have a 8’ roost and 2-6’ roosts at the highest level in my coop. The 8’ roosts is a staggered roost for the chickens to climb up to the higher roosts. Now I have 44 chickens and they all want to be on the higher roosts no matter what. But many of the chickens will chase the other chickens away from them wanting at least 2-3 feet of space between them and the other chickens. If other chickens try to fill in those open spaces the chicken will peck at the other chickens till they get down leaving the area open. While others will crowd together too, some pair up in groups. I’ve noticed that my chickens even pair up in different groups when they’re out free ranging on my 5 acres that I let them free range on sun up to sun down. I have watched the chickens get in separate groups and go off in different directions. I also have numerous roosters too and usually each group of hens has a rooster their following around as well. I haven’t seen all my chickens yet all gather around together unless I’m throwing out feed or treats out for them. Kind of funny though, when the chickens see or hear me they all come running at me from every direction imaginable! Squawking and flapping their wings! 😂
@ghostridergale
Жыл бұрын
That was my first mistake when I built my roost, being too close to the wall. I found out the roosts should be least 18” from the wall at a minimum!
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
@@ghostridergale Yes, all our girls do that. Makes us feel like we are celebrities and feel so special. hahahaha
@brianrandle9647
Жыл бұрын
What happens if I don’t build anything and just leave them on the floor? I already know they feel safe…so why build any roosting bars then? Can any answer this please? Thanks
@Lortafant_of_Norway
Жыл бұрын
They poop at night, so they will sleep in it then. Also, getting of the ground is better for their health. In my opinion, building a roosting bar outside where they sleep at night is the best, as long as they are safe and can stay dry in bad weather.
@coffeenciggy
Жыл бұрын
Thank you, I will no longer accept the pecking order in chicken as gospel! Similar background here, ex-researcher. Data and objective observation is everything. Granted the rich social life of chicken and many domesticated animals bred for food, it doesn't make sense that we have never imbued them with particularly high intellect (usually the opposite). Primates, dolphins and other mammals living in groups are always said to have high IQ to cope with complex group dynamics... but not domesticated animals? Doesn't seem too logical...
@CarisaWalcott
2 жыл бұрын
Interesting
@winniecash1654
2 жыл бұрын
How far apart do the roosting bars need to be? And how close to the wall?
@jolenecarnabuci2213
2 жыл бұрын
How high should the roosting bars be in relation to the top of the coop? Do they want to get as high up as possible to feel safe?
@carmichaelization
10 ай бұрын
All I know (just 1-2 sources) state that roosting bars should NOT be more than 20" off the ground. And the girls should not be landing on cement flooring ( we made that mistake) so they don't hurt their feet. But not sure if 1-2 sources are right.
@kylemartin832
9 ай бұрын
I have watched way too many chicken videos for a normal person. I've heard so many people talk about the pecking order and how it's a real thing. Yet, never once do I see people point out their dominant boss hens. Roosters are another story. Those are always pointed out in videos but again no one is pointing out their dominant hens 👍🙏✌️
@winniecash1654
2 жыл бұрын
I am noticing that they form relationships. Some run together, some are loners and seem to do their own thing.
@thefeatherbrain
2 жыл бұрын
So true, and many of their relationships change over time too.
@lawrencefarmer267
Жыл бұрын
So I have 55 chicken so I should make one level for them all to Ruston yes or no
@MosaicHomestead
Жыл бұрын
I was going to build a chicken ladder 🪜, but I was undecided for the design...level roost bars it is.
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