Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Happy chickens!]

Pecking order has been evolving since my girls arrived, originally Rosemary and Sage were very possesive of the food and pecked the others trying to eat. More food areas seems to have solved that but...

 

Lavender now seems to be bullying three of the chickens. It's not food related now; I let them truly free range yesterday and she chased one around the garden! The trouble is today 2 of the pecked girls (Fennel and Minty) won't come out of the cube. I did try and tempt them out with pellets, but while they would peck some from my hand and seem hungry, they don't want to come out. Only gave them a few as don't want to get in the habit of feeding inside.

 

There's no blood that I can see, but Lavender bites their necks and holds on, looks very painful.

 

Should I force the girls out of the cube or let them sort themselves out?

 

Thank you.

[Guest]

it takes about 2-3 weeks for the pecking order to settle down. Ex bats take a bit longer as they've never been "real" chickens before and need to unlearn any aggressive behaviour they've learned in the cage.

 

Maud, our top chook, was a real bully when she arrived. We put out extra food stations and seperated her from the rest in another part of the run (where they could still see each other) for short periods to let the others have some peace. I'd say it all took about 3 weeks-ish.

 

Maud is now the most lovely chicken ever. She's still the boss but she looks after the other girls, they still get the odd peck but nothing more. She jumps on my knee just to be cuddled if I sit in the garden with them and she's just brilliant

 

Try chucking some sweetcorn in for them, it will take their minds off bullying and they'll all get used to eating together.

 

It will get better and with ex batts you do need extra patience with them as they've had to fight to survive in the past and they need to learn that they don't need to fight any more. I'm sure you'll get there in the end.

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks Poet.

 

They've got sweetcorn - they love it, but won't come out for it today!

[Guest]

are you able to seperate the bully for a short time (as mentioned above)?

[Egluntyne]

It does sound like normal pecking order stuff. Not easy to watch though.

 

As long as no blood is drawn it should all settle.

 

My late lamented Atilla was brutal sometimes with new girls and often had to go into the slammer for a day or two.

 

Making the nasty hen submit to you by placing a hand on her back and making her squat can show her that she is not top hen....you are.

 

Distractions such as a cabbage to peck at can help too.

[Happy chickens!]

Funny you should say that Poet - I hadn't tried it before as was worried it might take them even longer to sort out the pecking order - but I've just been out to do just that. Put the 3 'top' hens back in the cube run, and took out the 2 underlings and put them in a larger run they go in when I'm around (not fox proof but much more room for them). You should have heard the clucks from the top girls!! Tough!

 

I let them all back together when Fennel and Minty seemed to have eaten enough and stayed with them for a while - in the drizzle; I'm either ready for the men in white coats to take me away or I love those chickens! They seem ok for now - keep going out to check on them.

 

If you all think ok to separate temporarily to allow to feed, then will do that for time being and let them get on with it apart from that.

 

They don't seem to like anything soft like cabbage yet, Egluntine, but did get a pecking block which no one has touched!

 

Was in the middle of this post, when had to stop, younger son (11) been punched on way home from school; feeling surrounded by bullying!!!

[Guest]

I hope it works, it did for us so fingers x'd for you

 

The first thing our girls got to like was tinned sweetcorn and malty bread soaked in water mushed up with banana. They'll slowly learn that other foods taste yummy

 

I remember how horrible it is to watch but it will get better xxxx

 

Sorry to hear about your son

[Egluntyne]

Was in the middle of this post, when had to stop, younger son (11) been punched on way home from school; feeling surrounded by bullying!!!

Oh dear...sorry to hear that. I hope he is OK.

[Happy chickens!]

Thanks Egluntine

 

Girls happily tucked up, son stopped bleeding, just want to look forward to Christmas and goodwill to all men, small boys and chickens!!

[Happy chickens!]

Just thought you'd all like to know your advice is working (touch wood), they're gradually getting more free ranging - although they stay quite close to the eglu - and with the extra freedom there is less pecking. Still having to take Fennel and Minty out of the eglu in the morning, but they have stayed out all day today - I have just tucked up 6 decidedly soggy chickens - but that's their choice!!!

 

Thanks again.

[Egluntyne]

Good. How is your son today?

[Happy chickens!]

He seems fine too, thanks Egluntine.

 

Happy Christmas to chicken lovers everywhere!