Aggression

[Matzwd]

I have a behavior question for any of you who might want to weigh in. I have a silkie pullet (pretty sure) who is mean to my salmon faverolle pullet and is essentially pushing her away from the flock. If she notices the SF next to her, she pecks her hard enough tio make her squawk. The faverolle literally runs away by itself sometimes because the silkie is in a mood. Neither of them are at the top of the pecking order. Should I do anything about it, or let it sort itself out? I don't want anyone getting hurt when they're confined to the coop overnight. I've been seeing faverolle feathers on the ground quite a bit and don't know if she's molting or if silkie is causing it. They are about 12 weeks old.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I've only had one faverolle and in my experience they are really docile. She would wait until everyone else ate or went to bed before eating. They are likely to be easy targets. You might consider getting a second one for her to befriend, otherwise they can be a bit lonely.

 

[Folly's place]

Favorelles are sweet and gentle souls who do tend to be at the bottom of the pecking order in mixed flocks. Wonderful birds, but softies.
Silkies tend to be picked on too, and can't fly well or at all.
Is that Silkie a cockerel? Can you tell yet?
How much space do they have, any hiding spaces, and what diet?
Rearranging spaces, having things to do, and if necessary, altering the flock makeup all may help.
Mary

 

[Matzwd]

The other chicks are good to her. It's just the one silkie who doesn't like her. She is quite docile and very, very sweet. She is not all the way at the bottom of the totem pole either. I've seen her thump a couple of other chicks out of the way of the feeder. I like the idea of adding another, but it'll be awhile before I have the space to add chickens the correct way.

 

[Folly's place]

If she's not being injured, and has places to run away, just see how it goes. Or get rid of that Silkie!
Mary

 

[Matzwd]

How much space do they have, any hiding spaces, and what diet?

They are finishing up a bag of chick starter before switching to grower. They get a few hours a day to free range in a 50x50' enclosure. They are inside they're coop (8 chicks in a coop advertised to hold 18) from dusk till dawn and in a smallish attached run (4 x 9) when we can't supervise them in the big pen. She can't really hide in the small run unless she goes into the coop. Sometimes she perches in the doorway.

I have a very mixed flock, a welsummer, red sex link, SF, polish, three silkies, and SLW.