Brand new chicken mom

[smorris2]

Hello all! I'm new to having backyard chickens and am learning as I go. I have 5 dominicker pullets that are 7-9 weeks old and 3 one year old hens. We were going to separate the hens from the chicks but decided to just put them together and pray for the best because it was going to be very difficult to keep them separate. The hens have been overall good to my "babies" but the biggest hen is a bully. If she's out and the chicks are eating or getting water she runs them off. Her beak was clipped as a chick (we've only had her a week) so she's not hurting them but they run scared as can be. Any advice would be appreciated. Oh, and she would be the only one that's actively laying so I can't get too mad at her

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas, smorris2, and ! Pleased you joined our flock! Might just be the boss hen showing dominance...but if it turns mean here's a link you might explore: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/bullying-behavior-in-chickens
And here's another: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/a-guide-to-understanding-the-chicken-pecking-order
Hope they give you some useful tips! Best wishes and thanks for joining BYC! :cd

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - thanks for joining us. By that age, the chicks are sufficiently robust to take a peck or two. The key is to have a number of feeding stations and places of refuge, where the chicks can avoid the adults (perches, shrubs, etc).

I'm sure the links given by reasons will give further details.

Best wishes
CT

 

[drumstick diva]

Thank you for joining us at Backyard chickens.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Welcome to BYC.
What you are observing is normal flock dynamics. As no real harm can be done until/unless you see signs of actual deprivation you can figure that the littles are getting sufficient nutrition/hydration while learning their "place" - if you do become concerned, tough, the simplest solution is to add an additional feed/water station (or two) in a different area so that the resource guarding bird is only able to control one station at a time, giving the chicks access to the other(s)

 

[ninjawesome]

Hi there smorris2 and

! We're happy you could join us!

 

[Teila]

G’Day from down under smorris2

Welcome!

I agree with Ken and Ol Grey Mare, as long as you ensure the little ones have some good hiding spots where they can get away from being bullied and some food and water of their own so they do not go hungry or thirsty, things should work out in the long run and a pecking order established.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out