Is This Bullying or Pecking Order?

[BellaBlueBell]

I have 2 white bantam cochins, 14 weeks, and 2 partridge bantam cochins, 9 weeks. They have been hanging out all day and started sleeping in the same coop about 4 weeks ago. Everything seemed to be going well until this week. One of the white cochins (Millie) started pecking at the partridge ones when they go into the coop at night. The older ones always go in first, then the younger ones. Millie is driving them back out of the coop. When I saw it, I took her out for a few nights, put her in a hutch until dark and then put her back in the main coop. So, is this bullying or normal pecking order? Should I let her sleep in another coop? Will she learn to stop this behavior?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Unless they are injuring each other to the point of blood it’s the pecking order that you need to let them figure out themselves.

 

[BellaBlueBell]

Thank you! I don't think there's any blood being drawn.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Stop intervening if there is no blood. The pecking order is something that needs to be established because it organizes who gets what. It may seem cruel but it is their way of life. No need to mess with it unless they are proving their dominance too much (injuring someone).

 

[skeeeter]

... or totally preventing the others from entering the coop.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

... or totally preventing the others from entering the coop.

Not necessarily. The top of the pecking order decides who goes in first and gets the best spot. Flushing the others out at this age is exactly that. If it doesn’t get sorted out now it will be a habitual problem until they designate the pecking order.