HI, I wasn't sure if this belonged here or in the chicken behavior section but I thought it was best posted here. I have an issue with my "flock."
My flock consists of only three hens (as that is the legal limit that I can have) and no rooster (illegal here). Important to note: I have only had these girls for a day and so everything is new for both them and for me (first time chicken owner).
I bought them from a nice Mennonite farmer down the road from me. They are all different breeds but were living together for quite some time on his farm. One is a Barnevelder, one is a red sex link and one is striped black and white (I don't know the breed). Maybe it's important to note that they were free-range at his farm and here they are in a hutch together. Perhaps they didn't interact with each other when at the farm with all the room they had.
The Red sex link is an angel and the striped one is very timid but the Barnevelder is awful to both of them as well as to me! She has tried to peck the hell out of me. She is always bossing the other two around, forcing them to go in whatever area of the coop she's not currently interested in occupying. She pecks the red sex link and is bullying her HARD. The striped one is sort of middle of the road and stays out of her way but she bosses that one, as well.
Now, I know there are things I can probably do to curb her bullying and establish dominance over her (I read a bit about that). But I am actually thinking that the little house they have would be much more peaceful without the Barnevelder in it....and I was considering taking her back to to the Mennonite farm tomorrow and just keeping the other two chickens. It would certainly be easier for me, less behavior work, less stress about putting my hands near them, and an all-around nicer place for the other two chickens to live. I haven't bonded with the Barnevelder and I don't really like her all that much, and really...it hasn't been very long so I don't feel bad giving her back.
BUT
Before I undertake such a drastic measure....I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about the situation. I'd like to weigh my pros and cons and possibilities. Does nyone has enough experience to answer any of the following questions...
Could this be the three of them establishing who is "boss", and it just goes away after a few days?
Could I change this sort of behavior quickly, before she injures one of the other hens?
Does any of this have to do with the fact that they are different breeds?
Does any of this have to do with the fact that they are in a coop right now? (It houses up to 8 chickens but there's just the three, so plenty of room)
Could this lead to a serious injury or unhappy life for the other two chickens?
Can this have to do with the fact that a rooster isn't present?
If I send her back and there are only two of them, is one going to take over the "boss" role of the barnevelder?
Can the two chickens be okay just two of them or is three the absolute minimum number of chickens a person should have?
Am I over-thinking all of this because I'm so new and should I just let chickens be chickens?
I guess that is a whole lot of questions. I apologize for that. I am sitting here and all of these things are just what flew off the top of my head. Any suggestions/help/conversation would be welcomed and appreciated! Thanks
My flock consists of only three hens (as that is the legal limit that I can have) and no rooster (illegal here). Important to note: I have only had these girls for a day and so everything is new for both them and for me (first time chicken owner).
I bought them from a nice Mennonite farmer down the road from me. They are all different breeds but were living together for quite some time on his farm. One is a Barnevelder, one is a red sex link and one is striped black and white (I don't know the breed). Maybe it's important to note that they were free-range at his farm and here they are in a hutch together. Perhaps they didn't interact with each other when at the farm with all the room they had.
The Red sex link is an angel and the striped one is very timid but the Barnevelder is awful to both of them as well as to me! She has tried to peck the hell out of me. She is always bossing the other two around, forcing them to go in whatever area of the coop she's not currently interested in occupying. She pecks the red sex link and is bullying her HARD. The striped one is sort of middle of the road and stays out of her way but she bosses that one, as well.
Now, I know there are things I can probably do to curb her bullying and establish dominance over her (I read a bit about that). But I am actually thinking that the little house they have would be much more peaceful without the Barnevelder in it....and I was considering taking her back to to the Mennonite farm tomorrow and just keeping the other two chickens. It would certainly be easier for me, less behavior work, less stress about putting my hands near them, and an all-around nicer place for the other two chickens to live. I haven't bonded with the Barnevelder and I don't really like her all that much, and really...it hasn't been very long so I don't feel bad giving her back.
BUT
Before I undertake such a drastic measure....I am wondering if anyone has any ideas about the situation. I'd like to weigh my pros and cons and possibilities. Does nyone has enough experience to answer any of the following questions...
Could this be the three of them establishing who is "boss", and it just goes away after a few days?
Could I change this sort of behavior quickly, before she injures one of the other hens?
Does any of this have to do with the fact that they are different breeds?
Does any of this have to do with the fact that they are in a coop right now? (It houses up to 8 chickens but there's just the three, so plenty of room)
Could this lead to a serious injury or unhappy life for the other two chickens?
Can this have to do with the fact that a rooster isn't present?
If I send her back and there are only two of them, is one going to take over the "boss" role of the barnevelder?
Can the two chickens be okay just two of them or is three the absolute minimum number of chickens a person should have?
Am I over-thinking all of this because I'm so new and should I just let chickens be chickens?
I guess that is a whole lot of questions. I apologize for that. I am sitting here and all of these things are just what flew off the top of my head. Any suggestions/help/conversation would be welcomed and appreciated! Thanks