chickens pecking order

[bethannebel]

Hi, I started with 3 silkies. after a few months I added 5 chicks to them. they are americunas and plymouth rocks. everyone is housed together. lots of room and nest boxes. since the other hens have gotten full grown, they are picking on one silkie which I know is normal, but we noticed today that two of our silkies are getting really thin. we have food inside the hutch and then outside of the hutch and scattered about, feed them dried bugs and oatmeal etc. so today we seperated the 3 silkies to a run next to the original ones. well they paced all day and the other chickens paced as well. it rained and no one went in either shelter. I went down and let the silkies back in with the others and everyone went into the main hutch and settled. what should we do? i am worried that the 2 silkies are going to starve if we leave them together with the others. any help would be appreciated.

 

[Christine972]

I have a similar problem. One hen getting bullied and denied food by three others. I have separated her yet again. She mostly seems o.k. about being alone, but sometimes seems lonely. The others simply will not accept her. I give her extra attention and treats - but does this make the others hate her more??? I am stumped.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I always recommend keeping silkies only with other silkies or other gentle bantams. They attract pecking attention with their odd behaviors and are often bullied. I would be dividing the flocks up.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Treats are usually not conducive to good egg production.