mullethunter Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 After sleeping all together in relative harmony in the Eglu for the last 3 nights, tonight didn't go well. Shelley took herself off to bed in the Eglu leaving Bernadette outside with the big girls. She was really perturbed - even flew up onto our 7' high back fence which she's never done before (luckily she got down quite quickly - think it was too high for her!). Eventually, after the big girls had disappeared into the Eglu with Shelley I went out to at least shut Bernie into the run so she could go into the Eglu when the big girls went to sleep, but there was an almighty screeching from Shelley as the other two had pinned her in a corner to peck her. So I put the cat box back in and took Shelley out of the Eglu. Just going out now to check final positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 Oh no! After all your efforts! Hopefully it is a one time thing... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 3, 2014 Author Share Posted September 3, 2014 I don't understand chickens. After all that the little girls are in the a Eglu with the Wyandottes. They must have waited until the Wyandottes were asleep and the sneaked in! I REALLY hope we don't have to go through this every night. Incidentally Bernie has just started to properly crouch when I go to pick her up. Does this mean an egg could be imminent? And could it explain why she seemed so unsettled this evening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKMARCH Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I think it could be, when mine are moulting and not laying they go down in rankings and then seem to get their place back when they come back into lay. The others may sense she's maturing and letting her know they're the boss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted September 3, 2014 Share Posted September 3, 2014 I always found that there was some falling out and perhaps a change in the pecking order when they start to come into lay. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 I find that after a week or 2 after and intro that was 'easy' mine suddenly decide to play silly beggars for a while either the older girls decide to 'mug' the youngsters as they go into the coop or the youngsters 'forget' how to go into the coop I think it's down to the youngsters growing in confidence and trying to grab the best spot on the perch and that stubborn streak that chickens have coming out with a long drawn out intro it happens about a month or so after in both cases it stops as quick as it started Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 4, 2014 Author Share Posted September 4, 2014 Thankyou all for your comments. I do know I'm certainly not the only chicken keeper to ever have this but it's still reassuring to hear that it's happened before and hopefully it will get better! There were no injuries when I let them out this morning. I've seen my mums chickens crouch (well one of them - the other just legs it ) when you go to pick them up - but Bernie stays so still for so long! Maybe the whole thing's taken her by surprise and confused her. Perhaps puberty's as hard for chickens as it is for people Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 4, 2014 Share Posted September 4, 2014 Mine haved pinned each other down before. It's horrible to watch. If I see it I do run out and get them off, but as long as it's not constant it just part of the intro and peking order establishment. Sounds like you might get an egg soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 5, 2014 Author Share Posted September 5, 2014 (edited) A better bed time tonight Edited September 7, 2014 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 After two nights with all 4 on the perch, tonight the littl'uns are in the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 clever girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 8, 2014 Share Posted September 8, 2014 Oh dear. I've got 3 new little ones in my classic. They all hug together in the nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted September 9, 2014 Author Share Posted September 9, 2014 No consistency! Last night was back to all 4 on the perch and it looked like Amy was sitting ON Shelley on the perch! Anyway, my new worry is, most of the time when they're shut in the run the big girls keep the little girls on their perch. Will this cause the Pekins a problem when they want to lay, or will they just stick up for themselves better and use the nestbox? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted September 9, 2014 Share Posted September 9, 2014 I think they'll find a way to run the gauntlet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
