Chicken picking at feet

[K-F-C]

Hiya... I am worried about my 15 wk old Lavender Araucana... she is sooo small and my 22wk old Pepperpots are sooo huge next to her!

 

Since I got them yesterday she has spent most of her time inside the cube; sat on the wheel; the ladder or on top of the glug!

 

I have hardly seen her scratching about on the floor at all! When she does come down, the others seem to peck at her... noting too vicious... just a little peck as she walks past... there has been no major loss of feathers... I have put anti peck spray on her... but she seems to just cower!

 

She has eaten, mainly because I put a bowl of pellets inside the cube with her coz I was worried that she hadn't eaten, I also hand fed her some meal worms through the side of the cube and she has been drinking, by sticking her head into the glug whilst perched on the top of it!

 

Any advice would be appreciated.... she looks so unhappy!

[Chunky_Monkey]

Hi,

 

About 5 weeks ago, we were in the same sort of situation as you. Our Lavender Araucana was about 4 weeks younger than our other 2 and she seemed very unhappy and lonely. Our Black Rock used to run at her and occasionally peck her.

 

After a few days, she was absolutely fine. She was still small (but the same size as my coral) but she got more confident. We had a water squirter in case my Black Rock decided to peck her and now 5 weeks later they're all the best of friends. In fact, my Black Rock and Araucana spend more time together than they do with my Coral!

 

Give it a few more days. I hope it all works out.

[ubereglu]

Keep an eye on the situation, just to make sure she's not getting attacked. When she comes into lay I suspect the pecking order may change around a bit anyway and the others need to get used to her. Don't worry about her being smaller than the others, as araucanas tend to be because they're a relatively small breed, she'll keep growing for the moment anyway, so she will get bigger!

[K-F-C]

Thank you both! That has put my mind at rest... a little.

 

I will defo keep an eye on the situation!

[Tink]

as I mentioned before - the light sussex we have is around 4 weeks younger than the other 2 and spent the first few days hiding and getting pecked....we were really worried......the roles have completly reversed now and she is in charge. we just kept an eye on her for the first few days!

[Olly]

Agree with Chunky Monkey, nothing to worry about. Remember that although it looks like a bad case of playground bullying to us, to chickens this is normal behaviour; someone has to be bottom of the pecking order, and they don't do 'playing nicely'!

 

She will come down when she feels more confident, at the moment she's protecting herself by staying up high. Just make sure she has access to food and water.

[K-F-C]

Agree with Chunky Monkey, nothing to worry about. Remember that although it looks like a bad case of playground bullying to us, to chickens this is normal behaviour; someone has to be bottom of the pecking order, and they don't do 'playing nicely'!

 

She will come down when she feels more confident, at the moment she's protecting herself by staying up high. Just make sure she has access to food and water.

 

Thanks...

 

She, MiMi, was first out of the cube this morning... and then when the others came out she hopped onto the glug and then went straight back in again!

 

I put a cat bowl with some pellets in the cube with her; she is eating happily as I type!

[K-F-C]

Hi,

 

About 5 weeks ago, we were in the same sort of situation as you. Our Lavender Araucana was about 4 weeks younger than our other 2 and she seemed very unhappy and lonely. Our Black Rock used to run at her and occasionally peck her.

 

After a few days, she was absolutely fine. She was still small (but the same size as my coral) but she got more confident. We had a water squirter in case my Black Rock decided to peck her and now 5 weeks later they're all the best of friends. In fact, my Black Rock and Araucana spend more time together than they do with my Coral!

 

Give it a few more days. I hope it all works out.

 

It's taken just over two weeks but my Lavender Araucana now has the confidence to come down off of the cube ladder to spend much more time in the run with the others!

 

She's still a bit nervy and hardly gets a look in with the treats... unless I shut her in the cube run whilst the others roam the garden.