Yesterday, I picked up two new hens.
I am told they are 4.5 months old and should be laying soon.
One is a Barred Rock. Her name is Callie.

The other is a Rhode Island Red. Her name is Sissie.
She's having a heck of a time, because my Speckled Sussix, Penny, has decided she hates her.
She hunts her down and pecks her. Poor Sissie can't get near the food or water and is constantly running for safety.
I know this is in the natural scheme of things, but how long do I let it go on before I step in?
Sissie and Callie are supposedly 4.5 weeks old.
Penny (the SS) and Bertha (the EE) are supposedly 5 months, but they sure look a heck of a lot larger. And Sissie is really quite a bit smaller, as you can see in the photo below.

This is Bertha. She's the ruler of the roost and she's a piggy girl.
She chases everyone away from the food and water.
She's also the smartest - she knows how to put herself to bed and I have to still chase down the others.

This is my newest girl, Sissie. She's smaller and scared all the time.

This is Penny, my Speckled Sussix. I love her so much! She comes when I make peeping sounds and will let me pet her. But she's mean as heck to poor little Sissie!

How early do you let your girls out of the coop in the morning?
How late do you put them in?
Will keeping them in longer encourage them to lay?
I am told they are 4.5 months old and should be laying soon.
One is a Barred Rock. Her name is Callie.
The other is a Rhode Island Red. Her name is Sissie.
She's having a heck of a time, because my Speckled Sussix, Penny, has decided she hates her.
She hunts her down and pecks her. Poor Sissie can't get near the food or water and is constantly running for safety.
I know this is in the natural scheme of things, but how long do I let it go on before I step in?
Sissie and Callie are supposedly 4.5 weeks old.
Penny (the SS) and Bertha (the EE) are supposedly 5 months, but they sure look a heck of a lot larger. And Sissie is really quite a bit smaller, as you can see in the photo below.
This is Bertha. She's the ruler of the roost and she's a piggy girl.
She chases everyone away from the food and water.
She's also the smartest - she knows how to put herself to bed and I have to still chase down the others.
This is my newest girl, Sissie. She's smaller and scared all the time.
This is Penny, my Speckled Sussix. I love her so much! She comes when I make peeping sounds and will let me pet her. But she's mean as heck to poor little Sissie!
How early do you let your girls out of the coop in the morning?
How late do you put them in?
Will keeping them in longer encourage them to lay?