Hiya.
I have 3 silkies about 6 months old. They have a 3 metre run enclosed and i let them have free run of the garden after breakfast.
They started laying a few weeks ago. Just before that, the 2 biggest were doing their chest bumping thing and seemed to have sorted out who's top chick! So, Stoopid won, my white silkie. Hazel my grey silkie is in the middle.
Shortly after they started laying, i noticed Stoopid pecking Hazel. I assumed Stoopid, was just letting Hazel know she's still boss. My little black one Betty, has never been pecked, but does seem to get mothered by Stoopid, which is so sweet.
The last couple of weeks I saw that the pecking got worse! Hazel gets chased almost constantly by Stoopid all around my garden. Hazel tries to keep away from the others, but Stoopid still goes after her for no apparent reason. When they get shut up in their small run, she gets jumped on and pecked wherever she goes. The screams from her are heart wrenching. Each day it gets worse. Getting really worried now.
The last couple of days Hazel has gone broody. Even when i pull her out, within seconds she is pecked by Stoopid, and only stops when Hazel hides.
Please help! What can i do? I do let Hazel and Betty the run of the garden for a while so they can eat and play. Then i let Stoopid out, and after a quick scratch about, she targets Hazel again.
Thank you in advance.
I have 3 silkies about 6 months old. They have a 3 metre run enclosed and i let them have free run of the garden after breakfast.
They started laying a few weeks ago. Just before that, the 2 biggest were doing their chest bumping thing and seemed to have sorted out who's top chick! So, Stoopid won, my white silkie. Hazel my grey silkie is in the middle.
Shortly after they started laying, i noticed Stoopid pecking Hazel. I assumed Stoopid, was just letting Hazel know she's still boss. My little black one Betty, has never been pecked, but does seem to get mothered by Stoopid, which is so sweet.
The last couple of weeks I saw that the pecking got worse! Hazel gets chased almost constantly by Stoopid all around my garden. Hazel tries to keep away from the others, but Stoopid still goes after her for no apparent reason. When they get shut up in their small run, she gets jumped on and pecked wherever she goes. The screams from her are heart wrenching. Each day it gets worse. Getting really worried now.
The last couple of days Hazel has gone broody. Even when i pull her out, within seconds she is pecked by Stoopid, and only stops when Hazel hides.
Please help! What can i do? I do let Hazel and Betty the run of the garden for a while so they can eat and play. Then i let Stoopid out, and after a quick scratch about, she targets Hazel again.
Thank you in advance.