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

[CatherineH178]

Hello,

 

We are new to keeping chickens having had our four girls for just a couple of weeks.

 

One of the chickens, Dorothy, initially seemed to be getting picked on by the other three and we were concerned about that. However it seems that she is the vicious one, picking fights with the other chickens etc. Plus, and this is our primary concern, she seems to go for us when we let them free range. We have two small children and she goes for our little boy which is causing him to be nervous around the hens.

 

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? and can anyone offer any advice on how to deal with it?

 

Thanks in advance for any replies

Catherine

x

[Egluntyne]

Are you absolutely sure that she is not a cockerel?

 

It might be worth trying to get her used to being handled. Best done at night when she is drowsy at first, and then during the day.

[Hen Watch]

Sorry to hear this Catherine.

 

Assuming she is not a he..... when you say vicious how do you mean???? I only say that as when my chickens first arrived and were very young (POL) I would go to open their run door and they would peck my fingers. They pecked my jeans, fingers, shoes, infact everything. But then they grew up, realised I wasn't food and stopped. It took a month or so.

 

Does she peck the whole time or just try and sample you to see if you "are" or "have" food?

[CatherineH178]

Thanks for your replies!!

 

I think that it probably is because she is v young. They are all the same really pecking at us when we go to the run and when we let them out. One of the chickens isn't laying, but we are not 100% sure which one but maybe it is Dorothy and that would explain whey she is the worst????

 

Anyway, I will leave it another couple of weeks and see if it improves as they realise we aren't food.

 

Thanks again

x