Unsecure chicken perches

[Daffodill]

I have 3 new chickens and one is a little smaller than the others and still has a cheep instead of a cluck. One of the other chickens seems to be a bit rough with her, she spends alot of time trying to avoid confrontation. The bigger chicken even sits in the door way in the evening to stop the little one getting in eglu. When I intervene and put her in she trys to get herself under the other two. Should I leave her to get on with it? I feel tempted to take the big one back to the breeder. Any help would be much appreciated

[Plum]

One of mine cheeped when I got her at 18 weeks until she laid a long time after.

 

As long as the big one hasn't hurt her I wouldn't worry too much. I would make sure she has something to jump on out of the way. Guess they are just sorting out pecking order, but I found the new younger ones didn't stand up for themselves till they came into lay.

[Egluntyne]

Sounds as if there might be a difference in age. If you take the bigger one back, you might just end up swapping one problem for another. I'd make sure that there are plenty of food and water stations so that the little one isn't prevented from eating, and provide evergreen branches for her to seek refuge in when the going gets tough.

[Daffodill]

Thanks for the replies I feel a bit more reassured and this morning all three had their heads in the glug together so maybe things are starting to settle down. I must say having chickens is brilliant we were up at 6am on a Saturday to let them out!

[Daffodill]

Today has seen further developments and its not good news. I noticed that my young hen was spending alot of her time running from the other two and she jumps on my knee as soon as I open the door. Whilst I had hold of her I noticed there was some blood around her tail feathers and on inspection she has lost some feathers. I have read that chickens will some

times kill a chicken that has a sore as they are attracted the red. At the moment after having her in my jacket and her refusing to go back in the eglu, I have removed the other 2 chickens to another run at the side and put her in th eglu on her own. My plan is to give her time to heal in the main run but still be in view of the other 2 and hope that she will grow a bit more and gain a bit more confidence so I can get them all together. Does this sound reasonable? am I thinking like a chicken? Any other suggestions? Iam going to Centre Parcs in a week and I don't think my friend will want to carry a chicken around in her jacket.

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[chelsea]

Do you have any purple spray? This is an antiseptic which will help with the healing and also will cover the blood to that the others wont peck it.

[Daffodill]

I will try that thanks- I've segregated the nesting box from the roosting bit so the little one can sleep in there on her own and the other 2 can still see her and sleep on the perches. The breeder surgested putting talc on them all so they all smelled the same but as soon as I put them together the older 2 started on her again. I am hoping when she starts laying she will stand up to them a bit more.

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