Battling hens!

[Cryss]

I worked Sunday but hubby doesn't. He tested Petra letting her out of the "guest house" to join the flock. He hung out with them to watch the dynamics. He told me that all seemed safe, pecking order activities seemed within normal range. He moved Fraggle into the guest house where she settled in quickly. I think she was just happy to be off the patio and close to her friends. I didn't get to see dynamics until Monday. Yep, pecking order is the order of the day. Henneth still avoids Petra but shes much healthier than she was when she was being bullied and wasn't allowed to eat. She is not cowering, just actively avoiding. And she's not the only target now. Nugget and Eggsmerelda are getting schooled a bit by Petra too. I am concerned about what will happen when we let Fraggle rejoin the flock as she was the serious bully. I have peepers ready just in case. Now to decide when to try her release.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I worked Sunday but hubby doesn't. He tested Petra letting her out of the "guest house" to join the flock. He hung out with them to watch the dynamics. He told me that all seemed safe, pecking order activities seemed within normal range. He moved Fraggle into the guest house where she settled in quickly. I think she was just happy to be off the patio and close to her friends. I didn't get to see dynamics until Monday. Yep, pecking order is the order of the day. Henneth still avoids Petra but shes much healthier than she was when she was being bullied and wasn't allowed to eat. She is not cowering, just actively avoiding. And she's not the only target now. Nugget and Eggsmerelda are getting schooled a bit by Petra too. I am concerned about what will happen when we let Fraggle rejoin the flock as she was the serious bully. I have peepers ready just in case. Now to decide when to try her release.

I am glad that Henneth is doing better.

I was afraid that Petra would still be dominant to the others.

Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Wyandottes are naturally dominant birds and they won’t back down when putting another flock member in place. These breeds do better in a breed only flock or in a very large setup.
Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are not a breed for a beginner in chicken keeping. If a person must have a barred breed get a Dominique, they lay more eggs than Barred Plymouth Rocks anyways and they are a better fit for a community flock.

 

[Cryss]

I am glad that Henneth is doing better.

I was afraid that Petra would still be dominant to the others.

Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Wyandottes are naturally dominant birds and they won’t back down when putting another flock member in place. These breeds do better in a breed only flock or in a very large setup.
Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are not a breed for a beginner in chicken keeping. If a person must have a barred breed get a Dominique, they lay more eggs than Barred Plymouth Rocks anyways and they are a better fit for a community flock.

I had researched Barred Rock before adding them. I read a lot about how friendly and kind they were. I always look for docile birds. My first 4 were Orpingtons. No problem there. Next an Easter Egger and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. Both have been sweet if not a little flighty, with the Wyandotte never wanting to be touched. The Barred Rock were last. Started out super friendly, never made a fuss about anything. This happened so suddenly and they had been part of the flock for seven months. I guess you can't believe everything you read.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I had researched Barred Rock before adding them. I read a lot about how friendly and kind they were. I always look for docile birds. My first 4 were Orpingtons. No problem there. Next an Easter Egger and a Silver Laced Wyandotte. Both have been sweet if not a little flighty, with the Wyandotte never wanting to be touched. The Barred Rock were last. Started out super friendly, never made a fuss about anything. This happened so suddenly and they had been part of the flock for seven months. I guess you can't believe everything you read.

Generally when Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are described as docile and sweet birds it’s referring to how they act towards their owner and not necessarily the other chickens.
I hope the Barred Plymouth Rocks will behave themselves but if they bother Henneth again you may want to consider rehoming them and adding some more docile breeds to your flock.
You can’t go wrong with Leghorns
The end of my post wasn’t directed towards you Cryss it’s just something that has been bugging me for a while and I hate to see it cast a shadow on chicken keeping.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hope everything goes well. If it doesn't, then rehoming is a good idea, then I would leave everything as is until more space can be made.

If you don't like the BR, then I sure wouldn't add Leghorns to the mix.

 

[Cryss]

Generally when Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are described as docile and sweet birds it’s referring to how they act towards their owner and not necessarily the other chickens.
I hope the Barred Plymouth Rocks will behave themselves but if they bother Henneth again you may want to consider rehoming them and adding some more docile breeds to your flock.
You can’t go wrong with Leghorns
The end of my post wasn’t directed towards you Cryss it’s just something that has been bugging me for a while and I hate to see it cast a shadow on chicken keeping.

No offence taken! When someone else reads my progress here they need to learn all they can. It's all good. If things don't pan out I may consider rehoming. Not easy to consider because I've felt that I've had so little serious flock difficulties. Most of my difficulties have been centered around making beginners mistakes with my coop. I'm always grateful for being able to come here to ask questions and learn something new.

 

[Cryss]

Hope everything goes well. If it doesn't, then rehoming is a good idea, then I would leave everything as is until more space can be made.

If you don't like the BR, then I sure wouldn't add Leghorns to the mix.

I've kinda eliminated the thought of Leghorns very early on. I read they are not very cold hardy. Very much a problem in northwest NJ winters.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've kinda eliminated the thought of Leghorns very early on. I read they are not very cold hardy. Very much a problem in northwest NJ winters.

With proper housing/wind protection Leghorns should do fine in NJ.
They are very busy/active birds, can be quite bold and need space to move/do their thing just like BR - at least that is what I've found.

Plymouth Rocks, Rhode Island Reds, and Wyandottes are naturally dominant birds and they won’t back down when putting another flock member in place. These breeds do better in a breed only flock or in a very large setup.
Plymouth Rocks and Rhode Island Reds are not a breed for a beginner in chicken keeping.

@Brahma Chicken5000 you made one good point here...."these breeds do better in a large set-up".
I do disagree with the sentiment that BR/RIR/Wyandottes should not be a "beginner" chicken. Not sure what a beginner chicken breed should even be?! Silkies? Those things fight too

To make a blanket statement that BR, RIR and Wyandotte are not suited for beginners is far reaching.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

With proper housing/wind protection Leghorns should do fine in NJ.
They are very busy/active birds, can be quite bold and need space to move/do their thing just like BR - at least that is what I've found.


@Brahma Chicken5000 you made one good point here...."these breeds do better in a large set-up".
I do disagree with the sentiment that BR/RIR/Wyandottes should not be a "beginner" chicken. Not sure what a beginner chicken breed should even be?! Silkies? Those things fight too

To make a blanket statement that BR, RIR and Wyandotte are not suited for beginners is far reaching.

My Leghorns never challenged my Brahmas.
I see a lot of beginners get an assortment of breeds and they usually get a Barred Plymouth Rock or Rhode Island Red and some more docile breeds and that’s where problems crop up.

I've kinda eliminated the thought of Leghorns very early on. I read they are not very cold hardy. Very much a problem in northwest NJ winters.

I’ve kept Leghorns. They do just fine. They’re a great breed actually. They have a great feed to egg conversion, tolerate confinement well, and are amazing layers as well as sweet birds.

 

[Cryss]

I kept Leghorns. They do just fine. They’re a great breed actually. They have a great feed to egg conversion, tolerate confinement well, and are amazing layer as well as sweet birds.

Um...but are they agressive? And i dont heat my coop(s).