Solving Omlet Smart Auto Door Timing Issues with Alexa Routines

[Edge Wife]

Hi All,

I've posted a rather long message on the FAQ board but been advised by a regular that I would be better asking on here. So, here goes (shorter version).

 

Phoebe's started laying and it seems to have started some (mild, i think) trouble between Flo and Valerie. I see them squaring up to each other when free ranging (nothing viscious) but have not witnessed any real violence. However,as we both work 9-5 we're unlikely to catch it I think. Anyway, Val has become withdrawn but will still pinch blueberries from Phoebe's beak and does, as I said, square up to Flo, so she's not giving in lightly. On inspecting Val last night it looks as though she has a cut near her vent which is quite clean and does not look like it's a peck, but I can't guarantee it.

 

I'd like to know how long this can go on for because some of the posts I've read on the subject vary (3 weeks, three days, and someone who's lovely chook died because of the stress - I just can't have that happen! Val will come to live in the house with us if I think things are going that way!). Also, I don't know that val is getting enough food, so is it likely to cause a roblem if I leave the other two in the run and take val out on her own to make sure she's getting fed? if the other two see this will it make things worse, or are chicken's not that smart?

 

Many thanks for any advice.

 

Edge Wife

 

P.S Edgeman has gone to the horse shop to get some Anti-peck spray today just incase

[chocchick]

From following the forum 3 weeks seems to be the right time.

It would be better to take the bully out, (or one) to weaken her position.

[Jane and Martin]

Our Pepperpot is difinitely the top chook. We introduced two new hens last summer and there was some s"Ooops, word censored!"ping initially but thankfully nothing too serious. They all essentially get on now, they don't s"Ooops, word censored!" in a morning when in the eglu run before I let them out. However Gracie will every now and then put them in their place, this can be with a peck or by pushing them away from the food. They seem to accept this and go back to the feders later on. I'm sure thing will be fine.

[rachel19]

I've had my new 2 for a month or two now and they still get regularly put in their place by a peck on the head or what can only be described as a chest charge by one of the others who are higher up. They are perfectly happy with this despite one of them now having a slightly balding head Things will settle down but there may always be a bit of pecking so that the lowest one knows it's place.

[Snowy]

In my very limited experience, pecking order seems to be determined by who comes into lay first. Pom used to be higher than Bella in our little troop, but they both came into lay at the same time and so always seem to be bickering for a higher position. Florrie is acknowledged top chook as she laid first. Fizz was last and is bottom of the heap.

 

I've recently introduced two new hens, both a year older than my original four. They beat up the original four and are now masters of the garden!

 

If you think one is not getting access to food, leave several feeding stations around the run - the top chook cannot patrol them all at once!

 

Hope things settle down soon for you.

[Edge Wife]

Hi,

Thanks for the tips. I had been working on the assumption that first to lay would be top of the pile, but Phoebe, by far the thickest of the three, seems unconcerned by Valerie. It is Flo, previously bottom of the pile, who seems to have a real bee in her bonnet about being second in command. She's a real suck-up and will do the flappy-running thing to make sure she is wherever Phoebe is. She reminds me of a nasty primary school child trying to exclude some other poor little kid from the gang.

 

I don't think Val is getting too badly beaten up, but she does seem to have gone off treats, even when the other two aren't around: no grapes, no bluberries and only a tiny bit of sweetcorn. I saw her get to the glug last night and she wasn't barged out of the way by either of the other two so that's got to be a good sign. Once again I am probably being over-protective (but will always defend the underdog you see: hate bullying of any kind!)

 

Thanks again - sad but true that it is reassuring to hear other people have had a worse time. Don't know how you coped!

 

Edge Wife x

[Snowy]

Funny how the top chook seems less bothered by the others. I've found it's the ones bickering for the lower ranks that seem to be worse! Out of ours, Big Bertha is acknowledged leader, but Beryl her no2 is the worst for chasing the others if they come too near to Bertha. Like you say, just like a school bully 'she's MY friend, you lot keep away!'

[Edge Wife]

I thought I would revisit this post to let you know the outcome: the unrest lasted about a week.

 

I really think we were very, very lucky that it didn't get worse. Val wouldn't go near the run (cause of much irritation when I got caught in a downpour. Val hid under a bush but when it started thundering I couldn't leave the poor thing there on her own so stayed with her and got soaked to the skin for my troubles!) She had to be caught every night and put in through the egg port.

 

Her vent had been pecked but we managed to get hold of some violet coloured antiseptic spray which put the other two off. It all seemed to calm down and finally Val layed her first egg last week (it was a big-un too: 55g).

 

She has gone back to being at ease and more socialble with the other two and we have no trouble getting her back in the run. She has got quite noisy though and sounds a bit like an F1 car, but she only seems to do this when we are around and she thinks she can get some corn (I hope). She also doesn't seem to be holding it against Flo and they are all back to the relaxed birds they were when we got them: there is no discernable pecking order, but I'm sure they know what it is.

 

Thanks for all the tips: I just wanted to let you know there had been a happy ending.

 

Love,

Edge Wife