Rhonda wrote:
"Maybe they just enjoy seeing us scratch our heads..."
*** 15 ***
I'll second that! - Hence the 99.999...maybe should be 98.9999!
*** 15 ***
It's fairly typical for the upper perches to be filled - also for the unused space on whichever perch they have determined is for "the lower classes".
Don't be too surprised if the dynamics change as the birds age, or there is a shift in "who" is sitting where and next to "who".
I think you're on the right track to just keep putting the "outcasts" back on the perch at night. USUALLY (often? lots of times?) it only takes about 5 -7 nights to get them to take the roost of their own accord. However it is important they be separated from the "group" far enough they can't be pecked by a bird at their side.
*** 15 ***
The 6 ft perch and the 12 inch x 12 inch separation between perches comes from research conducted at TimeWarrior Farm over a 3 year period using 5 laying houses of 52 birds each. (4 males, 48 females per house.) Breeds were NMAES SC White Leghorn, Dominick, Barred Plymouth Rock and Buff Orpington – segregated 1 breed to a house with house 5 being a mixture of all 4 breeds.
When we finished crunching the data 6 ft. perches became the best compromise for balancing flock peck order health and construction expense for small flocks. (Single flocks over 50 birds to 175 -200 have a totally different dynamic as do flocks over 200 birds.)
*** 15 ***
Out of sheer curiosity: when you face the center of the roost with the length going to your left and right which compass direction are you facing? (N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW)
Also considering the top bar as #1 which roost(s) is (are) not full and which side are the birds bunched to – your left or your right?
Other helpful information would be the date and time of day of the observation, size of flock, and whether the structure is wood, metal or masonry, and the composition of the perches.
*** 15 ***
Happy Chicken Keeping!
Prof.
*** 30 ***
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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