bullying

[kmchick]

Hi all,

I am brand new to keeping chickens and got my first 3 at the weekend.I don't really know much about them to be honest but willing to learn (I'm turning into an obsessed chicken lady

). We are using an old dog kennel as their coop which has a pen/run attached to it. Two of my hens came from the same place (one is about 6 weeks old, the other is older) and I have a Sussex which came from somewhere else. However, the Sussex has been bullying the other two and they are terrified of her. I have had them separated for a few days now and decided to let them in together today but she is still continuing to peck at them, particularly the youngest one. I read somewhere to put them together in the dark but as it's summer, it doesn't get dark here til about 11pm and the sunlight comes back at about 3/4am so they are not in darkness for very long. Has anyone got any advice as to how I can make them get along?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Is your new Sussex older than the other pullets? Can you free range them during the day? There's always some drama when new birds meet, and figure out the pecking order. Lots of space and hiding places, and two feeders and waterers, will help smooth the transition. As long as there are no injuries, you may have to just let things happen. The youngest bird is likely to be on the bottom of the group, at least for now. Mary

 

[kmchick]

Welcome!  Is your new Sussex older than the other pullets?  Can you free range them during the day?  There's always some drama when new birds meet, and figure out the pecking order.  Lots of space and hiding places, and two feeders and waterers, will help smooth the transition.  As long as there are no injuries, you may have to just let things happen.  The youngest bird is likely to be on the bottom of the group, at least for now.  Mary

Hi Mary thanks for replying.

Yes the Sussex is the oldest of all 3 of them. She has been pecking at both of them but particularly the youngest one but they cling together and look out for one another which is really cute! I live near a busy road so would be very wary of letting them free range throughout the day and we have foxes and badgers that prowl around in the early evenings before I would be home from work. Just been to check on them (again) and things seem a little more relaxed now and they can bear being near each other, so you're right, maybe it will just take some time!