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

[MikeM67]

Well, today has been an eventful day. After a relatively quiet introduction, I found myself confronted by a chicken fight late this afternoon

 

I shouldn't be surprised, they're just sorting out the pecking order I suppose. Wasn't pretty to watch though. The smaller one ended up taking shelter in the Eglu! It was at this point that I decided to intervene... so, water spray in hand, I waited for the next confrontation and.... ZAP! After a couple more of these events, things have seemed to settle down. Heaven knows what the neighbors must think... there I was sitting by the chicken run, water spray in hand, shouting 'DON'T' at regular intervals!!

 

Does anyone else have any suggestions for this sort of thing? Slightly concerned about tonight when they are both couped up in the Eglu. Hopefully, all will be OK in the morning

 

Mike and family

Edited August 26, 2009 by Guest

[juehiggs]

Sorry I can't be of any help as I am having the same problem and can't find a solution. Introduced two lovely Buff Orpingtons to our lonely hybrid, and she spends all day attacking them: pecking their feathers out and eating them!

 

Have just noticed one the the Orpingtons is now doing the same to the other one (poor girl).

 

I hate watching it, but what can we do? I'm assuming they're sorting out the pecking order but I just wished this pecking would stop. They have been at it since Sunday.

 

I'd also like any ideas.

 

Julie

Henny, Penny & Jenny RIP

Big Bertha

Tracey & Edna (our new arrivals)

[MikeM67]

Well they've both gone into the Eglu OK. So I'll see what happens in the morning.

[legend21]

good luck, it is quite distressing, I hated when my littlest girl was subject to bullying, even now she is still bottom of pecking order but I take her sneaky treats. It does settle down but every so often I still need to get the water gun out.

 

Jackie

[Happy chickens!]

I think it often looks worse than it is - unless there's blood or one of them can't get access to food/water it is often better to leave them to it. I am not 100% sure, but think it is unusual for there to be a problem at night as they are pretty quiet in the dark.

 

I put out extra food and water stations for my girls when I first got them - I hated watching the leader stop the others from feeding - and they soon got the hang of it, they share pretty well now, so I hope yours will quickly settle down too.

[juehiggs]

Have found the nights to be very quiet: it obviously only happens during the day. As soon as they are up the hybrid stops the others from eating or drinking. I like the idea of extra food and water stations - will get that in place today.

 

To give the newcomers a bit of respite, we are letting the girls out on a rota: the hybrid on her own, then the two young ones.

 

Julie

Henny, Penny & Jenny RIP (ex-batts)

Big Bertha

Tracey & Edna (our new arrivals)

[TheHunter]

We are going through exact same thing. Our Blurbelle (Bunty) is really giving the others some jip. As there is no blood i am going to let it go on for 2 weeks but i have ordered some beak bumpers if it continues after that.

[atsw]

It is tough to watch, we now have our 10-week old Pekins in with the two big girls (Buff Orp and regular Red Hen) and the mornings are a bit frantic. The Pekins have their own Eglu in the WIR, as do the two older girls. When I open the doors up at 7:00am there's a certain amount of chasing and light pecking, but it calms down after 15 mins and they settle into their day. I have got four feeders and two drink stations in the run, which is a great help. The Pekins Eglu is also up on a 9" high table, so they can shelter from the big girls if needs be!

 

The evenings seem fine, the Pekins take themselves off to their Eglu around 30-40 mins before the big girls turn in for the night. All the Pekins pile into the nest-box together, often sitting on top of each other, very cute!

 

Andrew

[MikeM67]

Thanks for all the advice - it's really helpful to read other people's stories. It just confirms that we're not alone in our experiences!

 

A day 2 update.... the chickens have been named Ginny and Scarlett - with Ginny being the more dominant of the pair.

 

Well, for most of day 2, Ginny and Scarlett were left to their own devices. I was out at work, and my wife and kids were out most of the day. When my wife returned later in the afternoon, she discovered TWO EGGS!!! Fantastic! To go with the egg yesterday on arrival! So, it looks like they are both laying. On that basis, I suspect that not much is wrong!

 

There are still some minor scuffles, which look pretty vicious at times. Although, I suspect that Scarlett is goading Ginny on at times. She seems to deliberately place herself in positions where she will be pecked! Is this normal behaviour?

 

Hopefully things will settle down completely in the next few days. It looks like we'll have plenty of eggs to eat, at least!

[DanielSELondon]

Hi Mike,

 

I think that our chickens arrived on the same day (we live in Brockley so not far from you). I am glad that yours are laying too. We too have had eggs - which was very unexpected! They are very small but we are told that they will get bigger.

 

How are your chickens getting on now? Ours have settled down and there is only the occasional pecking going on now.

 

Apart from our fox issues which I have posted about elsewhere we are really enjoying having them.

 

Daniel

[MikeM67]

Daniel,

 

Lovely to hear from someone local! The Omlet man said he had more deliveries in my area, so I wondered if anyone would post on here!

 

Things have settled down a fair bit, but there is still the occasional skirmish. I honestly think that Scarlett (the smaller one) is goading Ginny on. It looks like a typical sibling relationship to be honest, and reminds me of my 2 daughters (i.e. one winding the other up, to get the other into trouble!!).

 

As far as the eggs are concerned, Scarlett is laying quite small eggs, but the egg from Ginny yesterday was pretty big (size 1 proportions). I will let you know if this continues.

 

It would be good to meet up, and compare notes We're thoroughly enjoying the experience. My youngest daughter was found in the garden last evening talking away happily to the chickens. She was absolutely captivated.