Help!!

[Allisonlovesnancy]

Hello, we recently got four chickens and we have only had them for a week. Today when I took out my chicken Nancy to hold her(I do this every day, I stand by the coop/ run so she can still her friends) I noticed she had some feathers missing on her forehead, it was not like that before and it makes me really upset because I love her!! I also noticed one of our other chickens(Shelly) pecking at my sisters chicken(Pheonix), what should I do to prevent Shelly’s rudeness?


If it helps, Nancy is an Americana and shelly is a golden something

 

[jwyles]

Ok I'm replying based on some things I've read not personal experience so feel free to take this with a grain of salt, but here goes... I've seen it suggested to put bullies in a time out where they can still see their flock mates but not cause damage. Like section off a portion of the coop and keep her in it for a while (sometimes a long time I think if it takes it). Let her out with them maybe after a few days and supervise. If she's still being ugly put her back and keep at it until A) she's broke of her "rudeness" or B) you decide she won't change at which point a more drastic measure will have to be taken. Like cull, rehome, or permanently separate. That being said I have to wonder if some of this isn't normal behavior with them establishing a new pecking order since you added new birds. In which case you'll need to decide if she's causing too much damage to wait it out or if you'll need to intervene.

 

[RonP]

Could be a lot of reasons.

To narrow it down, lets start with describing:

What are you feeding them?
How are they housed?
How old are they?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

You already got some good questions and answers...

I would go with a time out as suggested. If it doesn't work out Peepers are an option.

 

[Allisonlovesnancy]

Could be a lot of reasons.

To narrow it down, let's start with describing:

What are you feeding them?
How are they housed?
How old are they?

The girls are fed a chicken feed and lots of veggies like romaine, zucchini, pumpkin, etc.
They have a coop and a run, the coop door is opened early in the morning before I go to school and locked shut at night to keep them warm(Michigan winters are brutal).
Lastly, they are about 5 and a half months old, two of our four are laying the other two have not started yet.

 

[Allisonlovesnancy]

The girls are fed a chicken feed and lots of veggies like romaine, zucchini, pumpkin, etc.
They have a coop and a run, the coop door is opened early in the morning before I go to school and locked shut at night to keep them warm(Michigan winters are brutal).
Lastly, they are about 5 and a half months old, two of our four are laying the other two have not started yet.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Lovely... 2 Golden laced Wyandotte, an Easter Egger, and a Black Australorp.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

The girls are fed a chicken feed

How much protein%?

Wyandotte is a dual purpose breed and should be given at least 18%...
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf
That link has one misprint that says 5-17% and should say 15-17%.

I feed mine 20% protein. Lettuce, pumpkin and other things are simply a treat and shout not comprise more than 10% of their total daily consumption.

 

[Allisonlovesnancy]

How much protein%?

Wyandotte is a dual purpose breed and should be given at least 18%...
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf
That link has one misprint that says 5-17% and should say 15-17%.

I feed mine 20% protein. Lettuce, pumpkin and other things are simply a treat and shout not comprise more than 10% of their total daily consumption.

I will check on the protein, thank you very much! Shelly is a golden laced though.

 

[Chickassan]

You've got two layers and two non layers, the layers almost always treat non layers badly "think high school bullying". Also how big is your run? It looks a little small from what i can tell and the wire bottom impedes scratching and foraging which leads to boredom which leads to hen fights.