- May 25, 2011
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Hi all,
Here's the situation: I have three layers and recently got three chicks, one of which turned out to have twisted beak. Now the chicks are 9 weeks old, and all the chickens have free run of our large yard. They seem to run in two flocks during the day, the little ones running whenever the big ones come around. I keep them separate at night (the coop is temporarily separated into two areas). Until last night, we had not had a problem with pecking.
I have three questions...
1. The big chickens seem to bully the little ones, especially around food sources. Will this ever change or will we always in essence have two flocks? The larger girls are all reddish chickens, while the younger three are a Dominique, a Black Austrolorpe, and a Wellsummer. Will the two black ones ever be accepted by the reddish girls, or should it not matter?
2. Should I have them separated until the little ones catch up in size?
3. The Dominique chick has twisted beak. She seems to be accepted fine by her "sisters" - the two chicks that have grown up with her - but last night she somehow got into the big chickens' part of the coop and they pecked and pecked at her. Do you think it is because of her twisted beak?
Thanks, all.
Here's the situation: I have three layers and recently got three chicks, one of which turned out to have twisted beak. Now the chicks are 9 weeks old, and all the chickens have free run of our large yard. They seem to run in two flocks during the day, the little ones running whenever the big ones come around. I keep them separate at night (the coop is temporarily separated into two areas). Until last night, we had not had a problem with pecking.
I have three questions...
1. The big chickens seem to bully the little ones, especially around food sources. Will this ever change or will we always in essence have two flocks? The larger girls are all reddish chickens, while the younger three are a Dominique, a Black Austrolorpe, and a Wellsummer. Will the two black ones ever be accepted by the reddish girls, or should it not matter?
2. Should I have them separated until the little ones catch up in size?
3. The Dominique chick has twisted beak. She seems to be accepted fine by her "sisters" - the two chicks that have grown up with her - but last night she somehow got into the big chickens' part of the coop and they pecked and pecked at her. Do you think it is because of her twisted beak?
Thanks, all.