How are they doing now?
I would expect they will figure it out and it just takes time. What's going on here might be helpful to know - the five pullets here are 15 weeks old. They are still getting pushed/chased around by the four Bigs, but they all are getting a routine established. It seems much calmer than it was. The pullets have figured out when and where they can eat, drink, preen, snooze and forage throughout the day. They do have to periodically break camp and change locations. So I've tried to put water and feed in widely separated spots. Come winter I'm aiming to provide more breaks in sight lines and more "up" places in the covered run.
Pullets still yell loudly the same way (never been any blood, though you'd think they were getting really beat on) but there is much less panic. They are learning the routine and recognizing who is more tolerant and who to avoid. Two Bigs just want them to acknowledge the superior status and move on (Hazel, Tedi), though both will do a little chasing too, it seems to brighten their day). The pullets know who is likely to always give chase so it's better to clear out before they get too close (Annie somewhat, who is fast, but especially Diane, who is protecting her bottom status and really means it).
An interesting bit is the Buckeye pullets seem to pay most attention to reading faces, which makes sense in understanding another's intentions. I can have one of the Buff O.'s on my lap, and if they're facing away, like with their head snuggled under my "wing" (Tedi), some of the braver pullets will approach and hang out and explore my feet and legs. They have a little wariness seeing the Buff O. feathers and butt, but don't seem to feel much threat. If Tedi pulls her head out to look around though, even if Tedi doesn't move otherwise, they will move away. Beware the eye!
time to leave that church I imagine. If she was single it would be different, but she’s a friend and signals wave a big red flag!
