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

[Margalot]

Can someone throw some light on Pecking order etiquette for me?

 

We got 4 hens together on Saturday, 1 Sussex Star, 1 Blackrock and 2 Gingernut rangers.

 

All settled in beautifully and have been watching their behaviour ever since. The Sussex seems to be top bird and she will happily eat along side the rangers, and she lets them gently peck her beak and doesnt become aggressive to them........however the poor black rock gets attacked by the Sussex every she tries to feed etc, she is learning to keep out of her way and will eat when the other three have moved away so she is not going hungry, but she seems so left out

Have I got the pecking order wrong?, is it the 2 rangers that are in charge and will they group together? I hate to see a small flock of three happily and one lonely bird

 

Its almost as if its reflecting real life too as this bird is my teenage daughters who also seems to spend alot of time alone in her room!! whilst us 3 will happily watch tv etc together!!

 

By the way can you overfeed the hens with worms? as my son has been digging them up for them as a treat every afternoon, such fun to watch when they get them!

[surferdog]

Don't worry it will all settle down in a couple of weeks but very upsetting to watch while they sort themselves out. Make sure there is more than one food and drink station so your picked on girl can eat and drink without being chased away (I used some large china dog bowls which the chooks still prefer now to the grub/glug) and make sure no blood is drawn. You could also try things like a peckablock or hanging cabbages etc to distract them.

 

If it doesn't sort itself in the next few days there are lots of tips for other things on here you can do - bumpabits, ultradex, etc but it rarely comes to that. Good luck and try not to worry.

[Olly]

It is upsetting to watch, but remember they probably don't think quite like we do - it brings back horrible memories of playground bullying to us, but it's just the natural way of things with chickens. As long as she can eat and drink, and there's no serious damage being done, things will settle down. Someone has to be bottom of the pecking order!

[helenmb]

I agree that things will settle down, I have found usually by their 3rd week together they gel much more. Having said that one of my girls although isn't bottom chook is still a bit of a loner, she seems quite happy and does join in with the others as well but more often than not she seems to pootle about on her own. Maybe she just likes a bit of peace and quiet - who knows!

[Margalot]

Your'e right! I do tend to think how I would feel if I was bottom and had to wait to eat and just for walking in the wrong place get chased and pecked!

 

I suppose its just getting used to their behaviour! Great watching them get up this morning one of them did a slide down the side of the ladder...just like sliding down the banister............rebels!

[helenmb]

Great watching them get up this morning one of them did a slide down the side of the ladder...just like sliding down the banister............rebels!

Mine do that too

[Egluntyne]

I'd put three feeding stations out...she will find it hard to man them all and the blackrock will manage to grab a mouthful now and then.

 

I wouldn't overdo it wit the worms....it may give them the squits, and they are hosts for intestinal worm eggs.