DawnKD
Chirping
Need some advice here ...
I have 4 hens - Buff Orp (oldest, gentle yet dominant leader), EE (2nd in command), Delaware and Welsummer (lowest on the rung). My coop is 48 sq feet and my enclosed run is 100 sq ft.
My Delaware is incessant about lording over my Welsummer ... the poor Welsummer comes close or even looks the wrong way and my Delaware is pecking her on the head. No blood, but enough that the Welsummer doesn't dare go close to her or any of the others if there's a treat around. (If she manages to get a morsel, the poor girl runs for her life!) She's very tentative about wandering the run and is always near me if I'm in there and/or looking for a quick escape route from the Delaware. I just put the Delaware in "time out" in my dog crate in the garage so there can be some peace in the coop and run.
On top of that chicken drama, I've got two 11-week-old pullets (Red Sexlink and Barred Rock) who are ready to join the big girls.
I'm wondering if NOW is the time to do with already having messed with the existing flock's pecking order? Or do I wait a day or two until the three hens bond a bit?
I'm thinking chicken time-out for the Delaware will be 3-4 days, but tell me if I'm wrong ....
Thank you!!
I have 4 hens - Buff Orp (oldest, gentle yet dominant leader), EE (2nd in command), Delaware and Welsummer (lowest on the rung). My coop is 48 sq feet and my enclosed run is 100 sq ft.
My Delaware is incessant about lording over my Welsummer ... the poor Welsummer comes close or even looks the wrong way and my Delaware is pecking her on the head. No blood, but enough that the Welsummer doesn't dare go close to her or any of the others if there's a treat around. (If she manages to get a morsel, the poor girl runs for her life!) She's very tentative about wandering the run and is always near me if I'm in there and/or looking for a quick escape route from the Delaware. I just put the Delaware in "time out" in my dog crate in the garage so there can be some peace in the coop and run.
On top of that chicken drama, I've got two 11-week-old pullets (Red Sexlink and Barred Rock) who are ready to join the big girls.
I'm wondering if NOW is the time to do with already having messed with the existing flock's pecking order? Or do I wait a day or two until the three hens bond a bit?
I'm thinking chicken time-out for the Delaware will be 3-4 days, but tell me if I'm wrong ....
Thank you!!