4 week old RIR Drama!🐔

[pozees2]

I think they all look female, but they have a lot of growing to do, time will tell for sure. Protein boost may be in order, as @sourland suggested - you can try scrambling an egg or chopping up a hard boiled egg for them, maybe give it to them a few days in a row along with their regular feed, and see if that seems to alleviate any of the pecking.

 

[VictoriaTemple]

I think they all look female, but they have a lot of growing to do, time will tell for sure. Protein boost may be in order, as @sourland suggested - you can try scrambling an egg or chopping up a hard boiled egg for them, maybe give it to them a few days in a row along with their regular feed, and see if that seems to alleviate any of the pecking.

 

[Sherryspat8]

If you're feeding Scratch & Peck starter, the protein is mainly in the powder, so you need to make sure they're eating the fines. Wetting or fermenting the feed is your best bet to make the fines stick to the grains.

Also provide chick grit.

Ok, ill try that out. I provide grit to them since they were 1 week old. I also sprinkle some kelp into their food. I'll try the fermenting. Thanks!

 

[Sherryspat8]

Red could very well be a female, just a dominant. RIRs can be pushy in establishing pecking order, your other breeds are mostly known for docility (Easter Eggers vary a lot though). My RIR Amelia (pics below) looked very similar to your Red at that age, and she is all woman! She’s smaller than most in my flock, but she holds her own. I ❤ RIRs, they are like little velociraptors. Super clever and not afraid to throw weight around except when T-Rex shows up! (The trick is, you have to be T-Rex)

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Amelia is adorable! Yes they do look very much alike. Red is a meany! She has even pecked at me!

 

[Sherryspat8]

I think they all look female, but they have a lot of growing to do, time will tell for sure. Protein boost may be in order, as @sourland suggested - you can try scrambling an egg or chopping up a hard boiled egg for them, maybe give it to them a few days in a row along with their regular feed, and see if that seems to alleviate any of the pecking.

Today i chopped up some scrambled egg, threw in some feed, grit & kelp. I gave Red in isolation a plate, and the rest of the group a plate. the group started eating, but Red did not. Just pacing and chirping and trying to escape. So I let her eat with the group. She seemed fine as I observed them. No pecking while they were eating. After they ate & everyone was resting, she started the feather pecking again at the EE's and BR. The other two buffs usually pecks back. And so, back to isolation she goes. I will continue doing this routine for the next 3 days. And see if that helps. Thank you for the recommendation!

 

[VictoriaTemple]

Be the T-Rex.

 

[Sherryspat8]

Be the T-Rex.

I use my finger to peck back if she pecks me. What else can I do?

 

[SueT]

I had a bully RIR. She was vicious to all the others, and would even peck me and draw blood. Since then I noticed that lot of BYC people report this tendancy in RIRs, (tho the breed has its defenders.) I, for one, will never get another.
I suggest you rehome the little demon.

 

[Folly's place]

If you had older birds, you could put her out with them, as a learning experience for her. As it is, keep her separate, and move her on elsewhere.
I'm one of the people who gave up on production reds of all sorts many years ago because of the behavior of many of them. (Obnoxious pecking jerks!)
Mary

 

[Legacy Farms]

If you had older birds, you could put her out with them, as a learning experience for her. As it is, keep her separate, and move her on elsewhere.
I'm one of the people who gave up on production reds of all sorts many years ago because of the behavior of many of them. (Obnoxious pecking jerks!)
Mary

Good to know! We do that with horses, stick the nasty ones out with broodmares so they learn their lesson. I was unaware you could do this with hens. Thanks for the insight.