How are top chickens supposed to act?

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aart said:
If a low bird is completely terrorized to the point she can't eat drink or rest or is being brutally beaten regularly,
then separating them for a time can help build their confidence back up.
But then you still have to reintegrate. Folks who do this usually put another bird or two in with the fully recovered one and let them bond before integration back with the flock. I would only suggest it as last resort unless you have the enclosures and time to mess with it.
Click to expand...


Hmm, well she's not quite to that point yet and I am concerned about the reintegration, that it might make it worse, so maybe it's not a good idea right now? But would separating the bullies be a good idea?

They let her eat and drink regular food and she flies up to the perches and roof to get away/rest but they don't let her eat treats or if they are all thirsty at the same time they chase herand other low birds away until they're done.

But I think the main issue is space. They are still in that TSC coop kit which is maybe 3x3 and the 6x12 run, with the coop directly in the middle so really it might be smaller. And there's the two side corridors between the coop and run (it's raised up and the bottoms fenced so theres a channel) so that probably isn't the ideal situation for getting away from mean birds....

The good news though is the new coop is almost done and they will be moved to that so maybe that will help their behavior? And the new coop is 4x8 and the run will be bigger too. Even if it's not, it's the full 6x12 without being so broken up and I'm doing deep litter in it so more to do. But it will be bigger too.

So maybe that and/or more free range time will help?

Or maybe I could get some new chicks and reintroduce her with them? Then she will be older and top hen of them or hopefully
 
aart said:
C'mon......you know about space issues by now.
How many birds do you have now?
4x8 is probably only good for 8 max in your climate.
Click to expand...


Yes, I do know, I just didn't know if simply more space would resolve months of bullying/shunning her so just double checking. We haven't had time to work on the new coop because we had a few cold spells and my dad had his other hip done a month ago, plus of course I started school again, but the good news is that it's finally almost done :) all we have left is the HC on the eaves, the roost bars, and the rest of the clapboard. Well, and moving the run over.

Well, anyway, enough about that.

We just have the 8 chickens right now. Ideally it should probably stay 8 chickens but the thought was it's a mansion compared to their old place and the run is going to be bigger so I thought I could squeeze just a couple more in. But realistically that's probably not really responsible or fair and then I'd just run into the same issues I had before eventually.

I'm actually thinking of adding ducks though so I might just stick with the 8 chickens and add a separate duck pen. But of course not until well after the girls are settled into their new place and I make sure there's no issues.
 
aart said:
Exactly!
Click to expand...


I guess I'll just stick with 8 then :)

If I did add more, I want them from a breeder this time anyway and I don't really feel like finding a breeder or paying a lot right now anyway so it works out.

The max I would add would be 2-4 but 12 would probably be way too cramped so I'll have to expand if I do, which I don't want to do.

I actually like just the 8 though, I've gotten really attached and I don't want to ruin the flock dynamics, plus even just 8 is really hard to keep track of sometimes when they free range
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I think you said she's an Easter Egger- does she have muffs/beard? i.e. if she has the adorable puffy cheeks, she might not be able to see all that well.
I've got one that must be a triple copy for the muffs/beard gene. Her muffs grow in so thick that it impedes her vision. Before I finally figured out that she couldn't see to avoid getting jumped and picked on, she was in a position worse than the low bird, because she was vulnerable and couldn't see them coming. As a result she was a jumpy, miserable little thing. After I trimmed her muffs back under her eyes things changed immediately. Still near the bottom, but able to evade.

Easy fix. Get one of those little pairs of Fiskars (found them at Walmart, in the sewing section, I think) that are very sharp and very easy to control. Might need one to hold her and one to cut- I can do both, but you are near the eye, so if there's any doubt, a second set of hands is very useful. Do it every 4 or so weeks depending on the season. The picture was before the trim. She couldn't see behind her or to some extent the sides.

 

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