3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[chicarosa]

Hi Everyone

 

I'm a newbie look for some advice, fingers crossed someone can help me...

 

I've had my three chickens for almost three weeks, I'm really enjoying keeping them and we've had some lovely eggs But, I think one of them (Melanie) is being bullied - she has a few feathers missing on the top of her head (although I never see the other two peck her), the other two are first to the food and kind of scare her off when she tries to muscle in, she's also the last to take herself to bed and loiters around outside for a bit as though she's scared to go in

 

On the plus side they free range in the garden all day & stay close to one another, the three of them cuddle up for a dust bath/sun bathing together, so this kind of behaviour makes me think she's not really being bullied, and that it's just routine pecking order behaviour?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice

 

Sarah

[Tweety]

Hi Sarah,

It doesn't sound like full-on bullying to me, but keep an eye on things. It may help if you can put extra food and water out so that the others can't stop her getting to at least one of each. Unfortunately, there will always be one hen at the bottom of the pecking order and, in your case, it looks as if Melanie is it!

[Patricia W]

I find they tend to peck and feather pull in the early morning before they are let out again. Keep an eye on it, it may pass.