4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Strepsy]

I wonder if those with experience could maybe post a little about normal henpecking behaviour. It's worrying that there seems to be a lot of more serious problems going on for some people, so maybe knowing what's normal would help us spot any problems quickly.

 

 

I'll start with how my own are, which I'm fairly confident is normal at this stage, unless anyone tells me different!

 

My most mature Miss Pepperpot is top chook, but she also seems the most nervy. She will occasionally give the other two a peck on the saddle if they're in her way, or sometimes just stood next to her. The other two I don't think I've seen peck anyone at all. There was no big stand-offs or anything like that in the beginning, I don't think things have really changed. I only slightly worry about Hatti because as I said she is still a bit nervy, though she's just starting to lay so maybe that's normal, but also that her tail feathers are quite scruffy so she was possibly picked on before she came to us. If a bird has been picked on does it make them more likely to become an aggressor to others?

[Mrs Frugal]

That sounds quite normal. Jenny is my head hen and she will often give the others a quick peck on the neck or back if she's getting aggitated about laying an egg and she's always done this, right from when she first arrived. If the pecking is more sustained and the other hens are getting injured or distressed, then you need to worry as it's bullying rather than a little bit of keeping the others in line.

[superjules]

As long as it's just a "get out of my face" warning peck, that's pretty normal stuff, nothing to worry about. I think it's when your chook is repeatedly pecking, particularly on vulnerable spots (vent/top of head) you should intervene.

 

Daffodil will sometimes peck at whoever's nearest if she wants to re-assert her authority, as Kate says just keeping the others in line, and yesterday DD's pekin was hanging off my big silvernick's wattle in a barney over a dandelion leaf. Like children, they have their little squabbles but get along most on the time.

[Abbey Road Girl]

I wonder if the advice about "speaking chicken" by pecking the top hen with your thumb and forefinger might help. We are, after all, surrogate cockerels.

 

I think that was Eglatine's suggestion.

[Egluntyne]

I wonder if the advice about "speaking chicken" by pecking the top hen with your thumb and forefinger might help. We are, after all, surrogate cockerels.

 

I think that was Eglatine's suggestion.

Erm......I don't think it was me....it must have been two other people.

 

I've suggested water pistols and a gentle nudge with a broom....but not that....as far as I can remember.

[Olly]

hmm, I like the 'speaking chicken' idea!

 

I have felt bad because since I put mine together in the Cube, the two younger ones have been picked on a bit. However, this morning as I chucked some cabbage into the run and they got told off severely for trying to snaffle some, I reflected that when those two were together in their own Eglu, they would be just as nasty to each other if a cherry tomato or a grape was in contention!

 

I think the odd peck or 'snap' is normal, especially if it concerns food.

 

PS are you sure it wasn't Claret, Egluntine? You two are so alike, I often can't tell you apart!

[Abbey Road Girl]

Bad spelling! Will remember to spell your username this way:

 

Eg = magical creation

 

lun = as in moon

 

tine = as in fork

 

Sorry!

 

P.S. Buying a proper broom is on my list--maybe even a besom!

[Egluntyne]

Bad spelling! Will remember to spell your username this way:

 

Eg = magical creation

 

lun = as in moon

 

tine = as in fork

 

Sorry!

 

P.S. Buying a proper broom is on my list--maybe even a besom!

 

Shouldn't it be lun= as in atic?

 

Before anyone else says it!

[BarbaraJ]

Mine don't seem to have much of a pecking order that i'm aware of amber is getting more dominant, but barges them rather than pecks to get at food. Ruby is a bit skittih of me and them and Ebony is noisy and adventurous. Ruby seems at the bottom but unsure about the other two!

[Abbey Road Girl]

 

Shouldn't it be lun= as in atic?

 

Before anyone else says it!

 

Egluntine, I couldn't possibly comment!

 

Actually, you are sensible in the extreme! (Besotted, yes . but sensible!)