Group of Four bullying the rest of the flock? Do I rehome or separate?

[AyeUpChuck]

I have a new large mixed flock of varying ages. I have three Speckled Sussex and one olive egger who are 12 wks old and have been in the brooder together since the beginning. I have a slew of other birds that are about 8-10 weeks. Well we just finished a large coop with a huge covered run. I have two feeders and three waterers in the run and those four birds are chasing everyone off anytime they go to eat or drink. Is it really normal for birds to be so aggressive or mean?

I actually lost one of my wonderful black frizzled cochins today

and I think it's because she's super timid and they just chased her into the coop. Could I be wrong? Could something else have been wrong with her? She was just dead.

In the coop, right inside the door. She had no signs of resp infection. It was like she just laid down and died. I'm so confused. Should I cut my losses with my slightly older birds and rehome them or cull them before they keep someone else from eating and drinking? Should I clean out the coop for possible infection?

I'm obviously new to chickens. I haven't had any issues until now. I'm just supremely confused!

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

How close together are the feeding stations? Maybe you should put one inside the coop where the "bullies" can't see if anyone is eating out of it. You said you have a slew, how many is that? Over crowding can lead to aggresive behaviors. If you feel around on the chest of your dead frizzle (sorry for your loss), you should be able to feel if she was eating enough by how meaty her breast area is. If the keel bone is sticking way out, you know she wasn't eating/prolly not drinking.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

Yeah it's really hard. I've only had her for a few days. I thought she felt kind of skinny. Maybe I should've waited to introduce them to the group. I could definitely feel her keel bone. She was definitely. Well there are two feeding stations at either end of the run which is 16' long x 12' wide. Right now there are only 10 of them in that space. I don't feel like that's too many for that space. Am I wrong?

 

[AyeUpChuck]

Just wish I could figure it out. I don't want to lose anyone else!

 

[Batty about Banties]

Sorry for your loss. I also have a couple mean ladies and am thinking about rehoming. I hope things get better.

I dont think its overcrowded but I am also pretty new to chickens.

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

Well, you did say you just got her. Starvation takes a long time, so it might have been something wrong with the bird even before you got it. It could be that the stress of a new home is what did her in if she was already in a poor state.

 

[AyeUpChuck]

yeah I think she could've been stressed. I really hate these learning curves though!