Hi -
I've read some of the other threads on bullying, but they all appear to be related to adding new girls to an existing flock. Our problem is a little different.
We have 4 roughly 5-month old girls who have grown up together since we got them when they were only a few days old. (1 each Ameracauna, Brown Leghorn, Deleware and Buff Orpington). We are new to chicken raising so it's been hard for us to figure out the pecking order but lately we are seeing some very obvious behavior by the Brown Leghorn towards the Delaware. She chases her without provocation, pecks at her and nips her feathers for what appears to be no reason at all. She displays none of this behavior towards any of the other girls. Is she a bully? Or is this part of the girls establishing their pecking order? We do see some more subtle pecking order behavior among the other girls but it's not as aggressive.
If it's relevant, 3 of the four just started laying last week, including these two. (Our Ameracauna has not laid yet nor is she involved in this behavior)
Any advice would be much appreciated?
Thanks,
Jamie
I've read some of the other threads on bullying, but they all appear to be related to adding new girls to an existing flock. Our problem is a little different.
We have 4 roughly 5-month old girls who have grown up together since we got them when they were only a few days old. (1 each Ameracauna, Brown Leghorn, Deleware and Buff Orpington). We are new to chicken raising so it's been hard for us to figure out the pecking order but lately we are seeing some very obvious behavior by the Brown Leghorn towards the Delaware. She chases her without provocation, pecks at her and nips her feathers for what appears to be no reason at all. She displays none of this behavior towards any of the other girls. Is she a bully? Or is this part of the girls establishing their pecking order? We do see some more subtle pecking order behavior among the other girls but it's not as aggressive.
If it's relevant, 3 of the four just started laying last week, including these two. (Our Ameracauna has not laid yet nor is she involved in this behavior)
Any advice would be much appreciated?
Thanks,
Jamie