DragonBearMomma
Songster
The flock: *all hatched 4/11/21*
2 Welsumers (Wella & Ella)
2 Amberlinks (Amber & Link)
1 Delaware (Della)
1 White Crested Black Polish (MR. Peabody)
The issue:
Amber started laying a week ago. She's already very proficient. Since then, Mr. Peabody has been adoringly attentive to her, when prior to her new 'hen status', he wouldn't give her the time of day. Up until a week ago, he only forced his company on Wella & Ella.
Out of the blue, Wella has started pecking, pulling feathers & chasing off all the rest of her flock mates during evening snack, except Emma and Mr. Peabody (who, I might add, she usually does her dead-level best to avoid). Even Della, who up until now I would have SWORN was the flock leader (definitely a better leader/protector than Mr. Peabody), has suddenly become a target. Even if I put out 2 pans of their evening scratch, she'll run back and forth between the two to keep Amber, Link & Della from getting any. Also, Emma is mimicking everything Wella does in this regard, though not as aggressively.
They don't act like this in the coop, run, or while getting in their afternoon foraging. Only during snack time before bed. Always before, they'd remind me of puppies around the food pan...circling and eating....but always sharing and getting along.
Three questions:
1) Do flock dynamics change suddenly after 20 weeks?
2) Is Wella jealous of Amber's new 'hen' status, and by association of feather color, Link & Della as well?
3) Should I do anything about it?
I'm just so sad, because Wella started out as one of my most low-key girls, doing her own thing.
2 Welsumers (Wella & Ella)
2 Amberlinks (Amber & Link)
1 Delaware (Della)
1 White Crested Black Polish (MR. Peabody)
The issue:
Amber started laying a week ago. She's already very proficient. Since then, Mr. Peabody has been adoringly attentive to her, when prior to her new 'hen status', he wouldn't give her the time of day. Up until a week ago, he only forced his company on Wella & Ella.
Out of the blue, Wella has started pecking, pulling feathers & chasing off all the rest of her flock mates during evening snack, except Emma and Mr. Peabody (who, I might add, she usually does her dead-level best to avoid). Even Della, who up until now I would have SWORN was the flock leader (definitely a better leader/protector than Mr. Peabody), has suddenly become a target. Even if I put out 2 pans of their evening scratch, she'll run back and forth between the two to keep Amber, Link & Della from getting any. Also, Emma is mimicking everything Wella does in this regard, though not as aggressively.
They don't act like this in the coop, run, or while getting in their afternoon foraging. Only during snack time before bed. Always before, they'd remind me of puppies around the food pan...circling and eating....but always sharing and getting along.
Three questions:
1) Do flock dynamics change suddenly after 20 weeks?
2) Is Wella jealous of Amber's new 'hen' status, and by association of feather color, Link & Della as well?
3) Should I do anything about it?
I'm just so sad, because Wella started out as one of my most low-key girls, doing her own thing.