[suziequeue]

We introduced three 16 week speckledy hens to our three eighteen month old RIRs. Initially they seemed to get on OK but now they are fighting in the coop.

Each evening the speckledys roost in the tree and the RIRs go in the coop so we get the speckledys off the tree and put them in the coop. We try to get them to go up on the bar with the RIRs but most evenings there's terrific barneying going on.

Should we just leave things be and let the speckledys roost outside in the tree? or should we persevere to get them to mix before winter

It doesn't seem to be settling down.

Advice welcomed.

[little blue]

to be honest, I'd personally leave them to it to sort out... these things take time.

Is there any way of putting in another set  of roosting bars, so that you can put the Spex in the coop but not on the same bars?  Then at least they are safe out of the tree.
I'd be inclined to just bundle them (gently!) into the coop and let them choose where to roost.

Encourage them in with a treat of corn or something at "bedtime" (whenever you notice the RIRs are going in)

Our chickens are all penned in various runs and coops (too dangerous to free range here) and we always had trouble getting them to go in at night.  In the end, we agreed to just leave them to it - when they are very young I pop them inside when they are sleepy, then we leave them out.  By the time winter comes, they choose to go in all by them selves & I just shut down the doors at last check. 

  Obviously your set-up is different, but how long do you want to be climbing trees?! 

[goosepimple]

We inherited lots of hens roosting in trees and they did just great - some were 7yrs when they eventually died, out all winter etc, some hens just like it - they're much safer than in a house and will roost earlier in the evening (non of that shutting the chickens in), they teach their chicks to do it too (we made a twigs ladder for the chicks to get up and they roosted under mums wings either side).  As little blue said, they will just sort it out eventually, give them a few months.

[goosepimple]

P.S. Also RIR's tend to be heavyweights and a bit bossy.  Great hens though.

[suziequeue]

Thanks goosepimple and little blue.

Very reassuring.

I had a long chat with a guy at a chicken stall at a local show this afternoon. He said exactly the same thing...... just make sure that they go in but leave them to sort it out once they are in the coop.

Mind you - I think the spex will grow to be bigger than the roadies eventually.... then the stilleto will be on the other claw 

The roadies remind me of my maternal grandmother. She had red hair and was from Albequerque (which kind of sounds like a chicken noise in itself!!!) and - although never really bossy with me - certainly had the iron fist in velvet glove way about her.

[goosepimple]

If they don't sort it out send in a cockerel, that should do it 

[Barrett]

Having Speckledy's myself I am surprised they are putting up with any nonsense my girls will not take any messing about all the other chickens have to do what they say even the cockerel if I am honest, I would also try another roosting bar if you can squeeze one in, if not perhaps try closing the speckledy's in on there own for a whole day and leave the others out until dusk so the girls have time by themselves to settle in without any interference however, when I introduce my new chickens I always do it at night time when they are tired after a day in the field and that gives the cockerel time to strut his stuff so the hens know who he is. They will 9 times out of 10 sort things out for themselves.

[suziequeue]

Thanks Barrett

I think because the speckledys are just so much younger. They were still making peepy noises when we got them two weeks ago.... although they have almost stopped that now and are growing fast.

They seemed alot more settled in the coop last night without us interfering. I think we could put another roosting bar in but it would be lower than one that's there at the moment. Do you think that will be a problem?

[jaykay]

The boss girls will take the higher perch and leave the lower one to the new girls - ideal!