MeredithLindsay
In the Brooder
- Dec 25, 2020
- 47
- 19
- 46
Backstory: I recently rehomed part of my flock. The second to top hen was in the group that was rehomed. This let me with 3 hens and 8 pullets. 4 pullets are in a brooder, only a few weeks old. The other 4 are with my silkie hen. She’s raising them for me. Of the 3 hens one is the silkie mommy hen, the other two were raised by her as well about a year ago.
Since rehoming the first group the pecking order has been completely upset. I did not consider this when I did the rehoming. Historically the tiny silkie was at the top followed by one that was rehomed. Because the tiny silkie was broody for weeks and then raising chicks while I rehomed everything was upset. She lost her spot and one of the hens we kept is at the top now. No problem…except she’s MEAN. Every morning she tries to fight the roo. He wins she walks away. Then she goes for the 4 pullets being raised by the silkie. MAJOR PROBLEM. She is way bigger than they are and could seriously injure them or the silkie who is with them.
I understand what she’s doing. She’s letting everyone know she’s the boss now that the others are gone, but like we get it! You’re the boss. Leave everyone alone!
They don’t share a coop but do have an adjoining run so in the morning she will seek out the young chicks and peck them and jump on/at them. When free ranging they do their best to stay away from her but is she catches a glimpse of them she lunges for them.
A few things to consider. The coop is plenty big. They don’t share sleep space. The run is also large and most of the day they’re out in the yard. There is no sickness. This is a pecking order issue.
The only other factor is the coop. Bully wants to sleep in the chick coop. That’s where she was raised and that’s her home. She has learned she has a new home in the bigger coop now but she still misses her old home. (Can chickens miss things? Idk. Every once in a while I find her trying to go in the old coop but that’s where the silkie raises chicks so I obviously can’t trust bully in there.)
I put bully in a tractor most mornings but once we’re in the scorching heat I let her out to find dirt to cool off in. It’s also hard to constantly drag the tractor around changing shade all day. I’ve got things to do ya know? So she’s in jail half the day. No improvement though.
What do I do?? Should she sleep in jail? Is jail a 24 hr/day situation? I don’t want to rehome her ( I kinda do but she’s my daughter’s favorite) but she’s so mean and I’m also scared about what she’ll do when we introduce the other 4 baby chicks to the flock in a month or so.
Help!
Since rehoming the first group the pecking order has been completely upset. I did not consider this when I did the rehoming. Historically the tiny silkie was at the top followed by one that was rehomed. Because the tiny silkie was broody for weeks and then raising chicks while I rehomed everything was upset. She lost her spot and one of the hens we kept is at the top now. No problem…except she’s MEAN. Every morning she tries to fight the roo. He wins she walks away. Then she goes for the 4 pullets being raised by the silkie. MAJOR PROBLEM. She is way bigger than they are and could seriously injure them or the silkie who is with them.
I understand what she’s doing. She’s letting everyone know she’s the boss now that the others are gone, but like we get it! You’re the boss. Leave everyone alone!
They don’t share a coop but do have an adjoining run so in the morning she will seek out the young chicks and peck them and jump on/at them. When free ranging they do their best to stay away from her but is she catches a glimpse of them she lunges for them.
A few things to consider. The coop is plenty big. They don’t share sleep space. The run is also large and most of the day they’re out in the yard. There is no sickness. This is a pecking order issue.
The only other factor is the coop. Bully wants to sleep in the chick coop. That’s where she was raised and that’s her home. She has learned she has a new home in the bigger coop now but she still misses her old home. (Can chickens miss things? Idk. Every once in a while I find her trying to go in the old coop but that’s where the silkie raises chicks so I obviously can’t trust bully in there.)
I put bully in a tractor most mornings but once we’re in the scorching heat I let her out to find dirt to cool off in. It’s also hard to constantly drag the tractor around changing shade all day. I’ve got things to do ya know? So she’s in jail half the day. No improvement though.
What do I do?? Should she sleep in jail? Is jail a 24 hr/day situation? I don’t want to rehome her ( I kinda do but she’s my daughter’s favorite) but she’s so mean and I’m also scared about what she’ll do when we introduce the other 4 baby chicks to the flock in a month or so.
Help!
