In the last week, we've gone from average temps of upper 70's to upper 90's. My girls are getting very grumpy. I am providing them lots of shade, cool water and frozen treats.
I'm working at integrating three 13 week old pullets with three hens. They seemed to be doing well for the last two weeks but in the last few days, the lead hen has been chasing the pullets away from their food or any food for that matter. AND, I've noticed that the hen's food in the coop hasn't been touched for at least 4 days. I've attributed that to them eating less because of the heat. But, when I give treats and greens, the lead hen chases the pullets away from the food. I'm supplying separate eating areas and the lead hen goes back and forth to each area. Also in the morning, when I let all the chickens out of the coop (the pullets are separated in a rabbit cage right now), the pullets refuse to come out of the coop. The lead hen then comes back into the coop and starts terrorizing the pullets. It's an absolute mad house in the a.m. At this point, I can isolate the lead hen so that she can't see the rest of the flock but she can hear them and makes so much noise, I'm afraid my neighbors will complain. She will be completely away from the flock for a week while she's at the fair and I'm hoping this will "fix" her attitude BUT that's not for another 5 weeks. I'm so frustrated with her that I am actually looking forward to her being gone for a while.
I'm thinking that if I dunk the lead grumpy hen in outside temp to cool water (and practice bathing her for the fair next month) she may calm down a bit and stop being such a snot to the pullets. Does anyone think that would work? All the chickens seemed to be getting along fairly well but it seems now with the temp changes, we've gone backwards by quite a few steps.
Any advice would be helpful.
I'm working at integrating three 13 week old pullets with three hens. They seemed to be doing well for the last two weeks but in the last few days, the lead hen has been chasing the pullets away from their food or any food for that matter. AND, I've noticed that the hen's food in the coop hasn't been touched for at least 4 days. I've attributed that to them eating less because of the heat. But, when I give treats and greens, the lead hen chases the pullets away from the food. I'm supplying separate eating areas and the lead hen goes back and forth to each area. Also in the morning, when I let all the chickens out of the coop (the pullets are separated in a rabbit cage right now), the pullets refuse to come out of the coop. The lead hen then comes back into the coop and starts terrorizing the pullets. It's an absolute mad house in the a.m. At this point, I can isolate the lead hen so that she can't see the rest of the flock but she can hear them and makes so much noise, I'm afraid my neighbors will complain. She will be completely away from the flock for a week while she's at the fair and I'm hoping this will "fix" her attitude BUT that's not for another 5 weeks. I'm so frustrated with her that I am actually looking forward to her being gone for a while.
I'm thinking that if I dunk the lead grumpy hen in outside temp to cool water (and practice bathing her for the fair next month) she may calm down a bit and stop being such a snot to the pullets. Does anyone think that would work? All the chickens seemed to be getting along fairly well but it seems now with the temp changes, we've gone backwards by quite a few steps.
Any advice would be helpful.
