Chickens won’t get along

[chickenchicken123]

Hi so I have 6 chickens who are of different ages, not by much though. I separated them both by 2 groups of 3. They will not get along if i keep them all confined to their coop and run. And their run isn’t small, neither are there coops.

So The higher pecking order hens will sometimes flog or peck on them constantly. the lower rank hens will go to eat and they will be chased/scared off by the higher rank ones. I have two feeders that I fill generously for them. The higher rank hens won’t be hungry but will see a lower hen eating and go out of its way to chase it away. This I think happens all day. They have a large waterer too. And two nest boxes. I give them greens everyday. I know about normal pecking order but this is just incessant. They don’t seem to be working anything out by this. And it’s a pain because I have to feed, water, collect eggs, clean for 2 different coops. So frustrating.

 

[DobieLover]

Hi so I have 6 chickens who are of different ages, not by much though. I separated them both by 2 groups of 3. They will not get along if i keep them all confined to their coop and run. And their run isn’t small, neither are there coops.

So The higher pecking order hens will sometimes flog or peck on them constantly. the lower rank hens will go to eat and they will be chased/scared off by the higher rank ones. I have two feeders that I fill generously for them. The higher rank hens won’t be hungry but will see a lower hen eating and go out of its way to chase it away. This I think happens all day. They have a large waterer too. And two nest boxes. I give them greens everyday. I know about normal pecking order but this is just incessant. They don’t seem to be working anything out by this. And it’s a pain because I have to feed, water, collect eggs, clean for 2 different coops. So frustrating.

Please post pictures of your setup.
Lots of people think they have plenty of space when in fact they don't.
What is in the run? Are the feeders on opposite sides of the run to maximize distance between them?

 

[aart]

How old are these chicks, in weeks or months?
Did you get them at the same time, or......?
How long did they live side by side before you let them be together?

 

[Mrs. K]

You need some hidden feed stations, where a bird eating at one station, cannot see a bird eating at another. This is going to sound counter intuitive, but don't be so generous with the feed.

If they are out of feed when you come with feed, well then, they are going to be eating their fair share. They will see the food in front of them, and just want to get most of it. So that they won't have time to be chasing birds off of another place. I generally have a feed bowl for every two -three birds, and they are set up so that a bird eating at one place cannot be seen by a bird eating at another.

You can also let the bullies out of the coop/run, feed the lower birds, then let the bullies back in.

Mrs K