Help- My Girls Are Aggressive!

[austintxchick]

Repeated it again yesterday. They got a little closer to each other this time. There was some posturing from the older girls and one peck when they got too close to each other but for the most part, they didn't act like they even saw each other. Even more curious, the older girls came over to my daughter and I and just kind of hung out with us. Interesting.

 

[wchepooh]

Getting closer, I can feel it!

 

[duluthralphie]

I know many of you think of the chickens completely like pets. I mark my bullies with a blue band.( at this time) I follow the Southwest Airlines plan, blue is the next group to depart.
Depending on how mean they are can vary their departure time. However, I also invite them for a Sunday Dinner later.

 

[wchepooh]

I know many of you think of the chickens completely like pets. I mark my bullies with a blue band.( at this time)  I follow the Southwest Airlines plan, blue is the next group to depart.
Depending on how mean  they  are  can vary their departure time.  However, I also invite them for a Sunday Dinner later.

LOL. My son calls Miss Ellie, dinner! She's like the grinch.

 

[austintxchick]

Ack! Nooo I could never eat them. Plus they are way too skinny. LOL

 

[wchepooh]

Ack! Nooo I could never eat them.  Plus they are way too skinny. LOL

Lol. Mine aren't skinny! But I don't think I could eat them either, don't tell them that!

 

[austintxchick]

So, I had this idea. Maybe if they had a common enemy, they'd flock together. It kind of worked. I let me dog out while they were free ranging and they did sort of flock together. It was interesting. There was some posturing and one peck when the dog wasn't near (the dog loves the chickens and is gentle with them but she wants to "herd" them having sheepdog blood in her LOL.) The new girl is very good about finding places to hide, though.

 

[austintxchick]

Oops, I guess saying the B word is offensive here. I don't get it but OK. Lesson noted.

 

[austintxchick]

Update, day 3 of free ranging to get used to each other....seems to be going well. The new girl goes into the coop and hangs out. It's kind of funny. The other two are still sticking together and my Silver Laced Wyandotte seems to be the only one chasing and pecking the new one.

I have a question....how can you tell who is at the top of the pecking order? The two older girls seem to be on fairly equal ground but I'm wondering if the Golden Sex Link, Daisy is the main girl in charge. If the Wyandotte, Petunia is chasing the new girl, does that mean she's making sure the new girl knows she's last in line?

 

[islandgirl82]

Update, day 3 of free ranging to get used to each other....seems to be going well.  The new girl goes into the coop and hangs out. It's kind of funny.  The other two are still sticking together and my Silver Laced Wyandotte seems to be the only one chasing and pecking the new one.  

I have a question....how can you tell who is at the top of the pecking order?  The two girls seem to be on fairly equal ground but I'm wondering if the Golden Sex Link, Daisy is the main girl in charge.  If the Wyandotte, Petunia is chasing the new girl, does that mean she's making sure the new girl knows she's last in line?

That's what I've observed in my flock. ..the lower they are in the pecking order the harder they are on the newcombers. I'm not sure if it would work for chickens but I've read of people who are trying to get their pet rabbits to bond will put them in a carrier together and take them for a car ride because putting them in a safe but stressful situation gets them to focus on what's happening other than fighting with anyone and they soon get over the newness. Your off to a good startby ggiving them the free-ranging time. The more space they all have the less threatened they'll feel