Bullying. Again. What am I doing wrong?

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LaFleche said:
A good rooster would solve all these issues in no time.

You could plant a berry bush in the chicken run, some sunflowers etc. which will keep them entertained. As it is in your picture your run looks rather sad to me. A little "mountain" of sand and/ or leaves will have them busy scratching for a long time.

Some breeds don't do well in confinement, even bantam breeds can get antsy and stressed out. And of course some are more belligerent than others.
You may just reconsider your choice of breeds with their overall disposition in mind leaving factors as "cuteness" aside to be able to enjoy your flock again.
Click to expand...
You are welcome to call my run sad if you wish, but I absolutely did not get these birds because they are "cute". I spent a lot of time reading and reaching out to different chicken owners, trying to find the best breed to fit our situation. Cochin bantams were a standout due to their size and overall docile nature.

And for the final record, most of my bullying centered around the two birds that came to me in a sickly state. Could my coop or run have been a contributing factor? Absolutely. But having medically weak pullets did not help.

Thank you to everyone who replied.
 
FrostRanger said:
Or he could add his own drama without helping at all. Sure, a good rooster can help but finding a good one can be an ordeal in of itself and owning a rooster comes with it's own challenges. A good rooster is a joy to have around but I would not get one hoping he'll solve flock drama unless you want or need a rooster anyways
Click to expand...
Years back, my cousin ordered a bunch of hens, but got a half dozen roosters. All French Black Copper Maran's. Good roosters. She didn't have the heart to dispose of them. That's how I got my "Roo". Very gentle and well mannered. He's a credit to his breed.
 
thecatumbrella said:
You are welcome to call my run sad if you wish, but I absolutely did not get these birds because they are "cute". I spent a lot of time reading and reaching out to different chicken owners, trying to find the best breed to fit our situation. Cochin bantams were a standout due to their size and overall docile nature.

And for the final record, most of my bullying centered around the two birds that came to me in a sickly state. Could my coop or run have been a contributing factor? Absolutely. But having medically weak pullets did not help.

Thank you to everyone who replied.
Click to expand...
I meant no offense. My apologies.
 
2 Acres said:
Years back, my cousin ordered a bunch of hens, but got a half dozen roosters. All French Black Copper Maran's. Good roosters. She didn't have the heart to dispose of them. That's how I got my "Roo". Very gentle and well mannered. He's a credit to his breed.
Click to expand...

A bit off topic... Do chickens dream????
I have a GLW that I have been observing for a few nights now. Eyes closed, moving her head back and forth...

It's almost like she's dreaming about flying, and she's happy.
 
You seem to have tried a lot already and despite having started allover with a new flock of birds the same or similar issues arise.

I meant no offence, just tried to give you some ideas to provide entertainment for your birds that would encourage their natural behaviour like digging etc. to lower their stress level.

Rehoming a bird that just won't fit can be a relief for everyone involved.
 
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LaFleche said:
You seam to have tried a lot already and despite having started allover with a new flock of birds the same or similar issues arise.

I meant no offence, just tried to give you some ideas to provide entertainment for your birds that would encourage their natural behaviour like digging etc. to lower their stress level.

Rehoming a bird that just won't fit can be a relief for everyone involved.
Click to expand...
We are all good, I promise. I just wanted to make it clear that I chose a breed I would normally not want (bantam, feather-footed, super broody) under the guise they would "do better" in a confinement situation. They somehow did worse than the first group, even with the semi-improved run.

You did have great suggestions. It's probably not evident from my grainy photo, but I did attempt to create a forage-based system for them in different mediums, raking those mediums into piles, etc. They were little trenchers, but I'm sure it gets boring and repetitive to work the same areas day in and day out. Pellets, sprouts, and weeds are nowhere near as exciting as finding a bug in the grass.

Everyone has since been rehomed. I tried to either improve their situation, or at least match the quality of life they had here (with a rooster, like you mentioned). I don't intend to make another attempt at chickens with this enclosure. I really needed the pekin bantams to work, and it blew up in my face.

Take care, everyone. And thank you again for contributing to the thread. It means a lot.
 

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