Chicken Not Eating Out of Hand While Others Do?

[thebeanboi]

I have a 6 week old Silkie Bantam along with 2 other 6 week old Easter Eggers. Whenever I put mealworms or feed in my hand, the Silkie Bantam does not eat out of my hand when the EE's do. My pecking order for the 3 is the following:

TOP "ALPHA" CHICKEN: Teriyaki, a 6 week old Easter Egger bantam Cockerel
MIDDLE RANK: Cashew, a 6 week old Easter Egger bantam pullet
LOWEST RANK: Kung Pao, a 6 week old Silkie bantam pullet

I'm thinking that it is the dominance thing from above. Kung Pao looks interested in the food like it wants to eat it, but refuses to do so while the EEs eat.

Is this a pecking order thing or is it something I should worry about?

 

[chickengeorgeto]

It is normal for some chickens to look on freebies with suspicion. 100s of 1,000s of years of predation has resulted in chickens who can be very skittish about cozening up with the chickens' mortal enemy and most successful predator, us.

 

[thebeanboi]

It is normal for some chickens to look on freebies with suspicion. 100s of 1,000s of years of predation has resulted in chickens who can be very skittish about cozening up with the chickens' mortal enemy and most successful predator, us.

Ahhh alright. So Kung Pao is just afraid is what you're saying?

 

[Chickassan]

Will Kung Pao eat from your hand if nobody else is around?

 

[thebeanboi]

Will Kung Pao eat from your hand if nobody else is around?

Nope.

 

[Chickassan]

Dry or live mealies?

Nope.

 

[thebeanboi]

Dry or live mealies?

Dehydrated

 

[Chickassan]

Try getting some live ones, silkies are a little odd and the movement might overcome any hesitation in eating from your hand.

Dehydrated