Chickens at war, please help!?!!

[Ginge52]

We hatched 3 chicks with 2 broodies in May this year. We have kept all chicks, one is a cockeral, the others hens. The chicks remained with mums until 5/6wks old, then they had had enough.

We had 4 original hens. We expected the dynamics to change but it not harmonious at all. One of the broody hens actively chases the new chicks, she helped raise them so we're surprised. The others dominant them when it comes to food, which we expect but they chase them off.

Any suggestions on what we can do? Will this settle? Thanks in advance.

 

[nuthatched]

It's the pecking order, do they have enough room to get away? Do you have two feeders?

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Do you have lots of clutter to break line-of-sight between the little ones and whoever’s chasing them?

 

[ClickityChick123]

It is just the pecking order, multiple feeders and lots of clutter will help a lot.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Any suggestions on what we can do? Will this settle?

So the chicks are about 3 months old. What do your facilities look like, how are they tied together? How big is your coop, in feet or meters? How big is your run, in feet or meters? It is easier for me to discuss something if I know what you are working with.

What you describe does not sound all that unusual but without knowing your details I can't give specific advice. In general, try to give them as much room as you can during the day and at night, have separate feeding and water stations so they can eat without being bullied, and try to not force them to coexist in tight spaces. The more room the better.

I don't know how dangerous what you are seeing really is. As long as no one gets hurt I'm OK with it. With your cockerel things may get even more exciting when he hits puberty. But if they get through this phase and reach maturity it usually settles down.

 

[Ginge52]

So the chicks are about 3 months old. What do your facilities look like, how are they tied together? How big is your coop, in feet or meters? How big is your run, in feet or meters? It is easier for me to discuss something if I know what you are working with.

What you describe does not sound all that unusual but without knowing your details I can't give specific advice. In general, try to give them as much room as you can during the day and at night, have separate feeding and water stations so they can eat without being bullied, and try to not force them to coexist in tight spaces. The more room the better.

I don't know how dangerous what you are seeing really is. As long as no one gets hurt I'm OK with it. With your cockerel things may get even more exciting when he hits puberty. But if they get through this phase and reach maturity it usually settles down.

Thanks for responding. They all roam free in the garden all day, which is about 6m by 12m.There are multiple feeders places and watering holes. There isn't any blood just a peck and a chase. Just worry as the little ones are nervous around them and run off. They have a coop at night which has three big roosting bars on. Suppose I'll just have to see how it goes. When should I worry?