skye Posted April 18, 2011 Share Posted April 18, 2011 Hello all, Thought I'd post as the usual peace and love which reigns over Skye Towers has been broken, and bullying in the ranks is making us all a little stressed Our two Orpingtons Roxy and Ruby, now coming up to two years old, previously wouldn't say boo to a goose, have become real little madams this springtime. They have taken to bullying the life out of Dorcas, our one remaining retired ex-barn chicken She's an old girl now and I hate seeing it - those Orps have got some weight behind their attacks. I left them to it at first, thinking they'd sort it out, but after a couple of weeks it's still no better. Attentive water-pistol training has made no difference either. Dorcas can escape them in the run by getting on the perch, I've put a grub and glug up there, but I felt it was really spoiling her quality of life. So this evening we've set up the spare next to the main WIR and put the two Orpingtons in it for some time out. Hoping that when they return to the pack after a week or so, their bullying campaign will have been forgotten? One issue which I think might be responsible for some of the upheaval is that Roxy has seemed about to go broody for about three weeks now, without actually tipping over into full broodiness (she's got the angry Bokbok and the spiky feathers, but still laying and generally staying off the nest). Sorry for the verbal download, but those little madams are starting to get me down and just thought I'd share. Has anybody else had any experiences with bullying in the springtime, or with hens teetering on the edge of broodiness without actually turning full-blown broody? Thanks in advance for any contributions. skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bouldercroft Posted April 19, 2011 Share Posted April 19, 2011 I can't comment on broody bullies but I have spent a long weekend trying to introduce three new hens and it's sooo stressful - so I feel your pain Why can't we all get along and play nicely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted April 19, 2011 Author Share Posted April 19, 2011 Thank you bouldercroft, and I hope your situation calms down. I read your thread, and we were advised to 'chuck them all in together' with our first introduction as well... carnage ensued! After a gentle separation and reintroduction, lasting about two weeks all told, they all accepted each other. Good luck! The bumblers (our collective term for Roxy and Ruby!) spent their first night in the Eglu and one of them has laid an egg in the nesting box. In the meantime our other four in the WIR have seemed very relaxed without the threat of growling and pecking from our over-zealous madams I'll leave things to calm down for a few days at least, then start putting them in with the group one at a time to see how the land lies. One of them has decided to make her disapproval known, and has been shouting and bellowing the place down - I'm cringing as my elderly neighbour is sitting in his summer house just over the fence If anybody has any advice, I would be very glad to hear it. I haven't had a problem with bullying before when they've all known each other for years I think it's because the two bumblers have now fully matured while Dorcas has gone into retirement recently. Thanks skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
