2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[amateurkeeper]

Hello! I'm new, and as my name suggests have only started keeping chickens since Feb of this year.

 

We have 4 lovely ladies, 2 of which we brought home in February (red bantams) and 2 white ladies (White Sussex) are new to the garden, brought home around 3 weeks ago.

 

They sparred a bit at first, and now seem to have settled in quite well, however the red chickens still chase the white ones every now and again. I'm not worried about this at all - just the "pecking order" taking place I guess! However what I am worried about is the 2 red chickens both pecking and effectively "stamping" on the white chickens head as the other pecks. Is this normal? The one they are "bullying" just sits there and takes it; if we are witness to it we break it up straight away but I feel sorry for the white ladies for being bullied!! I don't understand why it doesn't try to run away?

 

Also, our larger red chicken tends to have a, umm, "dirty" backside! Alot of cling-ons (sorry!!!!) and at one point had a feather stuck up there! My partner was brave and pulled it out but it was pretty stuck on, while he was there he also clipped most of the feathers off that were "clumped", but now worried about infection etc. None of the other chickens have this problem - all very clean. Is this normal or something we need to keep an eye on?

[Mollie333]

Hi and welcome to the forum. ~WARNING: Chicken keeping is a highly addictive hobby and can get expensive.

 

I have no idea how violently they are pecking, but if you see one peck another hard, dont seperate them insted hold down (firmly but not too firmly) the bully on its back for about 10 secands, this puts them down the pecking order, keep repeting this every time they peck, should help.

My chickens got dirty ''knickers'' when i first got them, you can clean them ..

This is sometimes down to moving home, and should settle down.

 

Anything elts you want help with don't hesitate to PM me or post here again!

 

x

[Guest]

Welcome.

 

I agree with mollie the chicken hobby is addictive and very expensive !

 

Anyway pecking is normal if you feel it is too bad split them up. Assert your dominance as M said. I have to do that with 8 week old hens. It is normal.

 

Don't worry about anything just keep calm.

 

If you have questions us lot are always here.

 

One of my LS bantams got a dirty bum so we cleaned it off and removed some feathers (got breeder to come and do this) but that was last year when I got my first ones.

[amateurkeeper]

Hello, and thank you for all your replies!!

 

We'll definately start "holding" down the bully chicken when we see them s"Ooops, word censored!"ping, hopefully it will help. We're having to get up at the crack of dawn at the moment to let them out of their coop/run so they don't go completely mad at eachother while they're shut away - we used to leave the run open 24/7 but some nasty foxes have been spotted in our village over the last few days so we're being a bit cautious.

 

We got our 2 red bantams (Ruby and Murray) back in February, just them with the run of our large garden. About 3 weeks ago we visited a garden centre to buy a rose bush, and came back with 2 white sussex's instead - oops!! The white's are larger than R&M but they do take a battering from them every now and again, like you've all said I think it's just the pecking order being established!

 

With regard to Ruby's pooey bum, my partner gave her feathers a trim the other day and it seemed to get rid of the problem. Also this weekend we're going to an animal feed store to get some worm treatment because we've not done it - told you I was an amateur - so will get that done too.

 

I'm glad I was recommended to this forum - have been sitting on it since 8am just reading through all the threads, very informative!

[Guest]

I didn't do the wormer until about march

 

But hey you learn stuff as you go along.

[Mollie333]

Hello, and thank you for all your replies!!

 

We'll definately start "holding" down the bully chicken when we see them s"Ooops, word censored!"ping, hopefully it will help. We're having to get up at the crack of dawn at the moment to let them out of their coop/run so they don't go completely mad at eachother while they're shut away - we used to leave the run open 24/7 but some nasty foxes have been spotted in our village over the last few days so we're being a bit cautious.

Put a heavy cloth over the coop to keep the light out, that will keep them quiet.Be carefull of the foxes, i lost a 20 pound turkey hen and 4 chickens to a fox.. Awful things.

 

We got our 2 red bantams (Ruby and Murray) back in February, just them with the run of our large garden. About 3 weeks ago we visited a garden centre to buy a rose bush, and came back with 2 white sussex's instead - oops!! The white's are larger than R&M but they do take a battering from them every now and again, like you've all said I think it's just the pecking order being established!I love them names , Im hatching Light Sussex on july 4th!! i've done this, i went ot get some antibiotics for one of my chickens and came back with two silkies (who both passed away..) My pekin who is really small pecks at the Big girls sometimes.. Lol!

 

With regard to Ruby's pooey bum, my partner gave her feathers a trim the other day and it seemed to get rid of the problem. Also this weekend we're going to an animal feed store to get some worm treatment because we've not done it - told you I was an amateur - so will get that done too. Verm-x works well for worming x

 

I'm glad I was recommended to this forum - have been sitting on it since 8am just reading through all the threads, very informative!Yep. Omlet is very good!

Dont be scared to keep posting.

 

 

Molly x