The Pearsons Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Tonight my broody (Toast) came out for treats and also to dust bathe whichshe loves to do. One of the new girls (Princess) decided to watch - Chips (top chook) decided to have a go at Princess and then Toast gave Chips a peck as Chips tried to bully Princess. A full scale fight between Toast and Chips ensued with pecking and feather pulling on both sides. As neither seemed to be winning and neither was giving up I seperated them and let Toast go back to her eggs. Chips has been striding up and down beside the nest making rude comments to Toast who has turned her back. the new girls are staying well away. Toast is normally very cautious and submissive - is she becoming assertive because of the eggs almost ready to hatch or is there something else going on? If Chips doesn't settle herself down i may have to seperate her which would be a shame as she is always the chook that comes running first.... and the one who likes to settle on my knee etc etc...... Any thought appreciated. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 Not 100% sure, but I would assume that any chook sitting on eggs is likely to be more aggressive than normal. They certainly are once the chicks hatch (when we were away, one of the farm chicks got out of the run. The mother went for me big time when I tried to put it back in! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 23, 2007 Share Posted August 23, 2007 I thought that you had to have a broody hen that is actually sitting on eggs with the view of hatching out - in a totally seperate run and house. The newly hatched chicks would be in grave danger of being attacked or even killed by the hybrids. I would keep them seperate if I was you - not unless this happened when they were all freeranging in the garden. Then I would only let the other chickens out when your broody hen and her soon to be chicks are safely away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 24, 2007 Author Share Posted August 24, 2007 I'm going to be moving Toast (the broody) this weekend. She and Chips went for each other when they were free-ranging so I don't know what was in their minds...... THe run is big enough to section a large area off for Toast and the chicks (if any hatch). I do think Chips has been seriously upset with the arrival of the new girls. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
