We have 18 chicks that arrived newly hatched on Monday. 3 Barred Rock, 3 Buff Orphingtons, 3 Silver Laced Wyandotte, 3 Red Laced Blue Wyandotte, 3 Black Austrlorps and 3 Easter Eggers that were last minute subs from Meyer when the a jersey Giants didn't hatch. For the most past everyone is happy and healthy. A little pasty butt here and there but nothing we can't easily fix. My question is on the largest of the easter Eggers. She's a beak pecker. She hasn't damaged anyone and they don't really even complain or squawk at her when she does it...she just walks up and Peck, peck, pecks away at the side of their beaks. No blood, so not worried. Just trying to understand. Is she trying to establish dominance? If so, I find it amusing since the EE's will be the smallest of them all when full grown. They have plenty of spaces fresh food and waters are scratching and exploring like mad and the temp has been good. I don't think it's boredom, but want to make sure I'm not missing anything,
Some chicks are just more curious than others. I had one EE chick that kept pecking at the others. She would peck them till they started running from her. I named her "Cull" for a reason. Now Cull is almost two years old and to this day NONE of the other hens like her. She is my most beautiful EE, but she's a loner with no friends to play with. They don't even like roosting next to her at night. Chicken drama . . . gotta love it!
