Flock of Four Pecking Order

[thedogtales]

I have four 12 week old chickens. 2 BR, 1 RIR, 1 EE. I'm pretty sure the BRs and the RIR are pullets. I don't think the EE is a roo, but I don't know for sure.

The EE always seemed like the leader. Yesterday morning the EE was squawking because the BR was pecking her and hasn't stopped. The BR has always been the quiet one, but has grown to be bigger than the other BR. The EE is being very submissive and does her best to avoid the BR.

They sleep in my patio and go into an outdoor pen during the day. The EE can avoid the BR in the patio, but not in the pen. Right now the three are outside and the bully BR is doing time-out in the patio.

Any suggestions? How long will this go on? I hate to see them acting this way.

Thanks!!!!

 

[chookchick]

Make sure their outdoor pen is big enough--At LEAST 10 sq. ft. per bird. If you can give them things to do, like treats to scratch for, leaves to pull off a branch, a roost, that is helpful. They also seem to go through a time when pecking order issues are exaggerated, before they are laying, so this might be that time. Don't worry too much unless they are drawing blood, and make sure they can all get food and water.

 

[thedogtales]

Their pen is approx. 48 sq ft - so just big enough, but I may have to enlarge it. I'll double up on the food and water bowls.

I have all four in the pen now and things seem to have settled down a bit. Lots of squawking from the EE, but only a peck or two from the BR. Maybe they're working it out.

Thanks for your help!!

 

[novice sue]

Quote:
Hi Chookchick, great advice thank you. i love your area of the country- hope to move back there sometime. what type of branches do you use? we have ceder, oak, pear will they do?