Disturbance in the pecking order.

[Pickyzel]

We have 5 hens and 1 rooster, with our buff Orpington in the top of the pecking order. We got them at 4 weeks old and they are all 15 weeks now. All of a sudden our dominque (who I beleave was 3rd in the pecking order) today started chasing and pecking everyone. She never did this before. When I say chase I mean hunt down and chase around the whole pen. What has gotten into her. She was the most friendly one we have. If anyone has any answers please let me know. Thank you all.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Maybe a cockerel, can you post a pic?

Also hormones kick in at different rates. The more hormonal, the bigger jerks.

How big is your pen?

 

[Pickyzel]

We knew she was a hen the pic of her is in my profile aviator. The pen is 10x 10 with a large coop.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We knew she was a hen

Ya, but I coaxed a pic out of you!

She is lovely. Changes in pecking order are common and teenagers are the worst.

No bullies allowed at my place. If she is relentless then I would give her a time out in the flocks view, to let her cool her jets a bit. I also like to put the chaser on the run a little... it's true sometimes that the best defense is a good offense. If all else fails... a timeout out of the flocks view so she has to work her way back into the pecking order.

Some people use pinless peepers... but I don't sense you are there yet.

Having visual disruption helps... a trash can or chair, bucket or so on.

They may also be getting bored... so coming up with some enrichment might help. Like a hanging head of cabbage, broccoli, or an ear of corn type stuff.... just out of reach so they have to jump to get it and expend both mental and physical energy.

Just as informational... Chickens aren't considered hen or rooster until one year old. Before that they are technically pullet or cockerel.

In your pic... I see bare ground, a breeding ground for yuck. Add in some straw hay or shavings, dry leaves, grass clippings, pine needles, rice hulls... whatever ya got to make it more like the forest floor. It will invite good microbes and bugs to combat the bad ones and make for a healthier more chicken friendly environment. Plus they will be excited to scratch around looking for stuff! It's called deep litter if you wanna look into it. I use semi deep litter because I still like to pick up the majority of droppings. But this WILL make a HUGE difference for your flock, I promise!

Hope this is helpful!

 

[Pickyzel]

Your right it looks gross in the picture but that’s not the whole pen. If you look close to the top you can see where the gray sand starts that is under the coop and the the right side of the coop is pea gravel. In front of the chickens, you can’t see in the picture, is what we call a leaf bed. We wanted to give them a dust bath but they never wanted to use it and found the love this more. So we have leaves in tire with dust bath under it. There are stumps around that at different heights and a large stick above it for afternoon naps. The get let out of the pen about 2-3 times a day to do as them please in the yard and garden.