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

[ted]

How long does it take to establish the pecking order and once in place does it ever change. I have had my bantams since Christmas and they still seem to be at it?

 

Thanks

[Egluntyne]

It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks, but it does change as factors such as who is coming into/going out of lay come into the equation.

[ted]

Thanks Egluntine, thats interesting as none have laid yet, so the recent change in the power struggle could signal good news... fingers crossed.

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like it.

[Patricia W]

I'm really interested in this topic, so thanks for asking the question.

 

We seem to be having a little " do" at the moment. I have a trio of Polands, Phillip, Phillipa and Teddie. All hatched at the same time and they are coming up to a year old in a few weeks. Teddie laid at about 28 weeks and we had an egg a day until the really cold spell started just after Christmas. She then stopped and is now about half way through a moult. Her wattles are pink rather than red and Phillip is showing more interest in Phillipa. Phillipa has never laid, but her wattles bright red and I think are now growing and she is the one that Phillip " treads".

 

Teddie has taken to chasing Phillipa from time to time, wouldn't let her out of the eglu yesterday morning, and had to be confined to barracks for a while as the other two free ranged. She made such a commotion that I let her out after about half an hour and they all free ranged happily for the rest of the day. Today they all came out of the eglu together as normal.

 

I notice Teddie is occasionally having a go at Phillipa again today - nothing serious, but I'm keeping an eye on her. Phillipa is a bit wary of her for a while after Teddie's been at her, ( half-hearted peck and a bit of chasing so Phillipa runs away), but then they come back together and continue free-ranging happily.

 

I'm hoping things will settle again- do you think it's Teddie desperately trying to retain her place in the pecking order when she's not the apple of Phillip's eye?? Or is she just bad-tempered with the moult?

 

I never knew you needed a degree in psychology, and a qualification in marital counselling from Relate till I got these three!!

 

If things don't settle down, do you think I need to get another 2 (or 3) chickens and split the trio up? Of course, I'll then need the red cube I'm hankering after.... (another Omlet adict I'm afraid)

[ted]

I am afraid I cant really help with the male/female thing as all of mine are hens and are enough of a handful on the pecking order bit without introducing a male although I am not sure if that would settle things down and create a natural order??

 

Good luck with it, I will let you know what happens over the next few weeks...

[Egluntyne]

It does sound as if the pecking order has shifted.

 

Usually a rooster will sort out ant squabbles between his lady friends.

[Headchicken]

How early to they establish the pecking order? I have 2 chicks that seem to be more "strong willed" than the others: Trouble and Dot. Trouble is definitely more pushy, but Dot is bigger. I've been wondering if they are working on the order early (they're only 10 days old!). Just curious...

[YickerAL]

We got our girls with a second hand with a well established pecking order.

 

All was well until a few weeks ago when Lavender who was the lowest in the order mounted something of a rebellion! When the girls are eating their treats and Jemima stands next to her, she pecks her on the back of the neck! Now the J is scared of Lavender and stays away from her almost every meal time.

 

They aren't doing any damage to each other, so we have left them too it. They all still seem happy enough (when not eating!)

[stellabystarlight]

Just been reading all your post on Pecking order, I have only had my girls for just over two weeks and have been a bit stressed watching them settle into a pecking order. Amber has started to jump on top of Olivia (I assume this is what was reffered to as "mount") to stop Olivia pecking at Matilda's bum. I must just be a bit of a scaredy cat as didnt like it at all, but I assume that this is normal hen behaviour.

 

Stella

[sugarspice]

ive just added 2 newbies to my original 2 and the newbies are getting a good going over from both the old 1s. ive had them seperated for 3 days and i have let them mingle for 2/3 hrs before they go to bed but from tomorrow they will be all in together from now on. its tough to watch but thats just how they are.