Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Old Speckled Hen]

I've been reading lots here on chicken aggression and bumpa bits.

Is it common/normal for our chooks to be so nasty with each other?

I got my four hens in June at POL and apart from the first week in an arc, since upgraded to a coop with a 4 x 10 foot run, they have free ranged all day going into the run and coop to sleep.There doesn't even appear to be a top chook.

I have occasionally called them in early and there has been the odd kerfuffle over treats left in the run just as they retire so I made sure that all treats were given outside it.

My worry is that for the odd long weekend we plan to be away my SisIL will be looking after them and they will be confined to the run. Is fighting likely to break out?

I leave instructions for no treats, but to put a cabbage in the run ever day.

Do you think she should let them out?

But then there will be "Ooops, word censored!"ody in the house while they free range.

[cordelia]

have you had a trial run, (if you'll excuse the pun) with them in the run, while you are home and able to observe??

 

it will make you feel better about leaving them in, if you have to...

 

(I only like my girls out if the dog is with them) which is most days to be honest..

[eggypeggy]

I would imagine they will be fine. Aggression tends to occur, when introductions to new hens occur. I was the same with my two chooks .. I'd have been hard pushed to work out which one was top chook until I introduced two new hens... It was then very obvious!

 

So don't worry they are all getting on fine now.. there shouldn't be any reason for that to change.