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

[Lizzie]

Poor Flo is being kept from eating from Barbara. This is a very new thing, but obviously very worrying. She is not pulling any feathers, just "going" for her with a warning cluck. Flo is a sweet chook that just moves away.

 

They have a big run with more food containers then the number of chooks we keep (6 places to eat) plus water holder and special porridge mixture made of pellets etc

 

I could split the chooks (2 newer into the the half way house and the two older into the main run / house, but didn't want to as the halfway house is much smaller and only intended for getting chooks up to strength before integrating. I really also don't want to put beak things on Barbara.

I squirt her with water when I am around, but hubby has changed shift pattern now so they are left one week for seven hours (approx) unsupervised in their run during the day.

 

Hubby has got home and left Flo in the run so she can eat in peace, which she is doing.

 

What can I do ??

 

Any ideas gratefully received

 

Worried mum and dad

Liz

[The Dogmother]

Just make sure that you have enough feed stations and spray the naughty chook in the face with water when she bullies the other hen.

[clucky h]

Hello Lizzie, is it still going on?

 

I haven't kept hens long so I hesitate to give any advice (but I will, heh!). Since it's possible to separate them, could you put Barbara in the halfway house on her own for a bit? I have seen this suggested by other people for dealing with bullying chickens and it seems to work.

 

But maybe someone more experienced will come along soon and give you better advice.

 

Hope it works out!