help!

[eggshell]

I have recently bought three hens , one black rock and two goldlines. I am new to henkeeping and need some advice please! my black rock is beautifully tempered and has already laid me two eggs!! however the goldlines havent laid yet and my problem is that one of them is continually hen pecking the smaller one. is this normal behaviour? is there anything i can do?? any advice would be much appreciated.

 

[freshegg]

If you move grown hens they usually will not lay for a few weeks. I got 8 and only got 1 or 2 eggs a day for a month now I get 5-7 usually 7. I think the pecking is normal but dont know what to do about it.

 

[lauralou]

Hi Eggshell, and Welcome to BYC!

Some pecking is normal, as the birds establish a pecking order. I'm lucky, and my hens are all fairly gentle, so I really can't help you much.

There are others, however, who will know more about it. It might help them to help you if you give a little more information.

How long have you had the birds? Did they come from the same place? What is their coop and run like? How much space do they have? How severe is the pecking? What exactly is going on?

Those are some questions that occurred to me. The more information you can give, the better the advice you will get.

Good luck with your new chickens. I hope you can get them settled down into a peaceful situation.

 

[eggshell]

hi lauralou, thanx for the help. i bought the girls just 4 days ago. they all came from the same place, all freerange. they have a large enclosure and are free to wander all over the back garden, they seem very happy scratching around and will eat out of my hand (well two of them will) i just am maybe a little over anxious about them! i hope this bullying is normal and it doesnt get any worse, i am forever on watch!

 

[kinnip]

Mine peck each other often. I just keep an eye out for blood, which thankfully, no one has drawn yet.