When researching, I didn't find EE's very attractive from pictures. But now that I have my flock, she is my favorite.I find her very exotic, with lovely plumage, and what looks like a telescopic neck that seems to stretch up from nowhere to see what is going on. She's also very nervous and different looking from my American and English breeds. Sadly, when we picked the hens up from the large hatchery between 16- and 10-months old. The EE already had a picked bald spot on her saddle. The buff and lavender orp and especially the SL Wyandotte continued to peck at her even in their new surroundings. When the four are doing something, the EE is always excluded. (The oldest, a Barred Rock, which I heard can be bullies, is actually not bothering her. I heard Orpingtons were the gentle "Golden Retrievers" of the chicken world. So much for that.) I have since learned that EEs are VERY timid, usually end up at the bottom of any pecking order. So we've been treating our EE, Cadbury, with Blu-Kote , and now Rooster Booster Pick no More, trying to control the taunting. It's been two weeks, and I'm hopeful that as the hens get older and the pecking order is settled, they will stock pecking at the EE. Next flock, I will get two EEs and probably avoid SLWs. Thanks for hearing me out!
