mrs chook Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 (edited) Hi I haven't been on here for ages, just looked at my last posts and chuckled - same problem!!!!! My two younger girls are both picking and pecking my older girl Bertha who seems to have stopped laying altogether. She is moulting and otherwise is fine. Have just moved Bertha out for a while, I know the advice was to move the bully not bullied before but it had got pretty bad. Another problem is the other two have been SO SO vocal the last day or two so I have put screen between them and Bertha who is in Eglu and run on lawn now, not in WIR... (so far - quiet!!) They seem to hate having her there or seeing her I am worried what to do surprised someone hasn't been round complaining this morning. Out at 7.30 rearranging accommodation To top it all I WAS thinking of adding to numbers recently (hmmmmm) Any ideas???? Edited August 4, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 more chickens might dilute the situation as the bullies would have other chickens to distract them. However if they are that bad they might be just as mean to the newbies (esp if they are young) maybe someone with more info could help, other than a day of settling and getting pecking orders sorted we have been really lucky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esta Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 How old are the new ones? Do you definatley know they are hens or are the youngsters growing up? Hope you are able to work something out. Esta x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 They're about two years old.. They just both seem to really have it in for my older girl who is 4. I think she is retired now maybe that plus moult is the issue - have separated old lady and screened them for now - totally quiet!! (thankfully!!!) As I said I WAS thinking of adding to numbers while I'm home in the holidays, but the noise they are making and the way things are I daren't! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
esta Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 Aww bless her How is the older one doing? Is she pacing around the eglu or is she looking destressed? Maybe she is a hen who likes being on her own, I have a hen like that she stays away from the rest of the girlies and potters around on her own x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 I have a similar problem with Babs, the bottom chook. Every so often the bullying reaches a crescendo so I then put the bullies( 2 of the) in solitary for a few days, and it calms down. However, on Saturday, I found her being attacked by six of them so decided enough was enough. I've bought 2 x 12 week old Lavender Aracauna, who are slightly bigger than her ( she's a Poland) and I am starting a new trio. So far so good. Babs is calmer and more settled than I've seen her for months and they are all getting on fine. I now have to decide if I try integrating the 3 together with the others some way down the line or keep them as a small mini-flock of their own. You may not want any more but would it be an option for you to get one other and integrate her with your older one? Or if one of your younger ones is nicer than the other, could you put her in with her? Leaving the worst one alone? Then when you put them back together you have a different pecking order. Tricia Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 Bertha is happily pecking at grass in the eglu run and eating her pellets. She clucked nervously when I opened the door - but when realised it wasn't and seemed happy and 'chatted' happily then. Funnily enough, I was wondering about maybe getting 2 newbies and putting them in WIR with Bertha and quarantining other two in eglu and run (?) Just don't know if I can handle the stress if anything else goes wrong she seems happy enough on her own at the moment, and decidedly happier to be away from the other two, can't say as I blame her!! She has never been a bossy girl and she and her original eglumate Priss always got on absolutely fine. I wouldn't mind, but the worst offender isn't EVEN laying at the moment either!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krysia Posted August 4, 2010 Share Posted August 4, 2010 She clucked nervously when I opened the door - but when realised it wasn't and seemed happy and 'chatted' happily then. sorry not laughing at your situation but the way you referred to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrs chook Posted August 4, 2010 Author Share Posted August 4, 2010 LOL!! fair enough! I was ready to put em in the oven this morning!!! (Or rehome them!) grrrrr. Just wondering now whether to put them all together with the two pests (or and ) in quarantine in an eglu and run and Bertha roaming in WIR and see how it goes. Don't want any more 'emphatic' squawking or fighting . Helpppppppp! Need some expert advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
