hens picking on one another

[sharon2323]

I have 8 hens 2 started laying one is a Sussex and the other is Easter egger ..now the one has started to pick on the other Sussex picking on EE .. she has been hiding in a corrnor i noticed today wondering if i should separate them no one is hurt .. 8 hens 8 boxes

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is the coop and run? Generally there's a bottom bird. You need to provide places and areas for them to get away from each other. Things to get up on, under, in or behind.

 

[Itty Biddy Barn]

How big is the coop and run? Generally there's a bottom bird. You need to provide places and areas for them to get away from each other. Things to get up on, under, in or behind.

I've had my "teenaged" hens for a couple days. The 2 RI Reds are really mean to the Orps. I don't know if that s because they're closer to laying eggs and if it will sort out when the Orps get bigger, or if I should take the RIRs back to the seller... things to worry about.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Aggression is normal when working out the pecking order. If blood is drawn than I would separate, otherwise if it's not too bad I would let them work it out.

Some RIR can be bullies in general, so it could be hormones or just how they are normally.

 

[Itty Biddy Barn]

Aggression is normal when working out the pecking order. If blood is drawn than I would separate, otherwise if it's not too bad I would let them work it out.

Some RIR can be bullies in general, so it could be hormones or just how they are normally.

Thank you. I found one of the RIR in the coop alone with a smaller girl, giving her the business & the poor little thing screamed in delight when I opened the door. So, I called the farmer I got them from and he's taking the RIR's back for the sake of the littler ones. He said they were ok with all the other chickens he has, but then again he's got a bigger run with lots more chickens. We shall see. I hate to send the girls back, (the RIR's) they're pretty birds, but I just can't stand the constant torturing of the other poor girls. It's relentless. I feel as though they would just kill the smaller girls, if left to it.