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

[Happy chickens!]

Hi

 

4 days after arrival my ex bats have perked up no end; they're generally eating well and laying eggs

 

Two of them are getting very pecky though. They pick on the others when they come to feed - I'm sure the ones that peck (Sage and Rosemary) can't be hungry, I keep topping up the food, but they keep an eye out and peck the necks of the other birds. I put a dish at the other end of the run in the hope that two sources of food would help, but now Sage takes one end and Rosemary the other! Two hens nip in and out whenever they can to get some grub, but the other two are far less confident and I am worried that they might not be getting enough food.

 

Any advice would be really appreciated, thanks.

[dancing cloud]

My little monsters went through this stage too. It seems ex-batts have a few days of getting to grips with the big wide world and being polite to each other, and then they get a bit of confidence and start sorting out who's boss.

 

Perhaps you could try three food bowls, so Sage and Rosemary can't cover them all and the other two will get a look in, but then mine all argue over the same bowl anyway

 

As long as there's no blood being shed, you pretty much have to let them get on with sorting out their pecking order. It's not pleasant, but they do sort themselves out quite quickly and then it seems to settle down to the occasional squabble.

 

The up-side is that establishing the pecking order is a "proper" chickenny thing to do, so your lucky girls are obviously thriving and enjoying your care

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks, Dancing Cloud, glad to know they're becoming normal.

 

Just been out for another 'fix' of chicken watching and they seem to have calmed a bit. Earlier Minty and Onion had retreated inside the eglu away from hostilities, but they're back out now and getting stuck in from time to time. Sage seems to have the far corner all to herself, whereas Rosemary is sharing 'hers' a bit - still pecks from time to time, just showing who's boss I guess! Sage and Rosemary are getting through an enormous amount of mash - will this reduce when they realise that the food is reliable do you think?

[Tweety]

Dancing Cloud is right - my ex batts were exactly the same when I first got them, but they have settled down now and, whilst it is not pleasant to watch, it is something that they have to sort out for themselves. Provided there is no bloodshed, you will have to leave them to it, but I would put out a third food bowl if you can.

[dancing cloud]

My little monsters struggled with the concept of food for the taking initally, but soon got used to the idea

 

I noticed they are eating enormous amounts at the moment though - think it's because it's cold and they need more energy. They've certainly learned how to complain when the porridge is all gone

[Suzy]

I went through the pecking order thing when I got my girls and Regan made sure everyone knew she was head hen.

 

Over the last week however, Lottie has started to bully Ophelia. Even when they free range she is a little cow to her, chasing her and making sure she can't get at the food. I have two bowls of food to try and make sure Ophelia gets some. Lottie doesn't bully Regan and Regan seems cool with both Lottie and Ophelia.

 

I do feel sorry for poor Ophelia though. She's looking a bit bedragled (maybe a moult as we've had 2 softees as well) whilst the others are blooming and we've moved onto them letting me stroke them too whereas Ophelia is a little bit more nervy still.

 

There's no actual sign of feather pulling as I've not seen more than the odd one on the floor and there's no blood or anything so I am loathed to spray Ophelia purple without any need to but if anyone has any ideas as to how to stop Lottie making sure Ophelia is firmly at the bottom of the pecking order, I'd love to hear them.

[Egluntyne]

They are so used to having to tussle for food in the battery cage, that it takes them a while to unlearn this behaviour.

 

Why not put out a couple more feed "stations"? They can't man them all.

[sandyhas3chucks]

They are so used to having to tussle for food in the battery cage, that it takes them a while to unlearn this behaviour.

 

Why not put out a couple more feed "stations"? They can't man them all.

A While? 6 months & mine are still awful over food, well the 2 bullies are! I HAVE MORE eeding stations than chooks so bottom girls can alwys gt to food somehere!

[Happy chickens!]

I was all ready to search out some more containers for feed tomorrow until I read Sandy's post! Whoever said little birds in a nest agree hasn't seen our poor girls. Think I will probably squeeze another feeder in and see how that goes. I am hoping to let them 'free range' this weekend if the weather isn't too awful - good way of getting the playstation generation some excercise when it's time to round them up I feel! - so maybe that will distract them too.

 

I had filled the entire cube with straw as it has been so cold, and my girls are a bit thin on feathers, but after reading posts on how people leave doors open, thought perhaps I was being a bit soft - and all the pooh was sticking to the straw rather than dropping neatly into the trays - so after cleaning out today, only put straw in the nesting box, but you should have heard the clucks of disgust! Not sure how many have squeezed in to the straw! Another thread suggests using cat litter trays for ease of cleaning.......... so much advice, guess I'll keep trying stuff to see what suits!!

 

Thanks for all your replies, I'm nearly as addicted to this forum as to my hens!!!

[pistachio]

I've had trouble with pecking and have had to deal with injuries from it. i agree with the others that as long as there is no blood you have to leave them to it. I also agree that extra feeding stations helps. I also find that giving them food that is tricky and entertaining to eat - cabbages hung up - mixed peeling that is harder to rip up and takes longer to get down - really helps too. Of course free-ranging for as long as possible on these short days helps as well.