does my newbie need another sister?

[gribley]

hi -- Totally new chicken owner here (although somewhat experienced with hens). I have room for only 3 in my little yard, so I built a coop to suit (12 sq ft). I started with an Ameraucana and an Easter Egger, they got along great. It took me four days to find my third, an Australorp who is a bit younger. By the dates I was given, the Amer and the EE are 5 weeks, and the Lorp is 3 -- but the Lorp is bigger than the Amer, and the EE biggest.

I added the Lorp and the Amer has been mercilessly picking on her, going for the head and eyes -- not just guarding food but going out of her way to peck her. It's painful to watch. I've given her several talkings-to and I put her in a separate (screened off) box for a bit but it stresses them all out, even the poor pecked Lorp. (Update: She's already escaped and rejoined the others!).

It's killing me to watch this behavior although I'm sure it will get sorted out eventually. But when I took the Lorp I considered taking two, so she had a sister to get acclimatized to the new space with. I wanted 3 and not 4 total, but I am considering going back and getting another Lorp and keeping those two screened off for a bit until they can work out some pair dynamics.

Is it better to let them peck it out, or add a clutchmate for the Lorp? If so I would be concerned that my coop is a bit small, but it is quite roomy inside and I might be willing to risk that.

thanks!

 

[azygous]

It's natural for a younger chick to be fearful of older ones. The older ones pick up on this fear, and you may see bully-pecking.

While it sometimes helps to have multiples of the younger ones to diffuse the attention, it often makes no difference if you have a dedicated bully-pecker.

What I've found often works is to give the bully a quick poke on the back with your finger or two fingers each time you see the bad behavior. This creates an aversion effect and usually stops the behavior in a short time.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Take the "mean" one out the coop/put it in the cage, let the new one have the run of the coop, then in 2 or 3 days return the "mean" one and see what happens. Never remove the one being pecked----unless its hurt----always remove the "pecker" that seems to work better. The Pecker might have to be kept caged for days to break its pecking.

 

[gribley]

Thanks for the quick replies. Funny, the new one is quite brave in general, but goes submissive when pecked.

I am testing the idea of isolating the "pecker", but it seems to stress all of them out. I'll give it a little while and see if they settle down.

Still debating going back for another sister, though... geez, this is stressful!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thanks for the quick replies. Funny, the new one is quite brave in general, but goes submissive when pecked.

I am testing the idea of isolating the "pecker", but it seems to stress all of them out. I'll give it a little while and see if they settle down.

Still debating going back for another sister, though... geez, this is stressful!

I do not have the Bad one in view of the rest. I have what I call a Chicken jail----3 cells, in the shade, feeders and waterers---that the bad ones get moved to---for ever how long I feel they need it. Everyone needs a chicken Jail if they are going to have chickens. My Jail Cells are mainly used to break broody wanta be's but are used for other things.

 

[lazy gardener]

Azygous and PDR have both given you excellent advice. If her advice doesn't work, try his, or even a combination of them. With the size of your set up I would NOT add an other one. You may find that even though your size satisfies the "letter of the law" in terms of space, as they reach sexual maturity, it may not be enough room.