Low girl on the totem pole...

[TheSpiceGirls]

Quote:
Easily solved... at least for me it was. Mine did the same thing when I would bring them their daily salad in a serilite container. Then I started scattering around on the ground and it was better but the little ones still got ran off a bit. Then I built them a trough. There is literally about two seconds of scurrying around till they settle down in line and all can enjoy in peace. Worked for mine, hope this helps.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/98066_trough.jpg

That's a GREAT idea. And a great photo.

 

[blueberrychickens]

Thanks for all the great input, I like the chicken trough idea, I may just have to put hubby to work this weekend!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
Easily solved... at least for me it was. Mine did the same thing when I would bring them their daily salad in a serilite container. Then I started scattering around on the ground and it was better but the little ones still got ran off a bit. Then I built them a trough. There is literally about two seconds of scurrying around till they settle down in line and all can enjoy in peace. Worked for mine, hope this helps.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/98066_trough.jpg

That pic is too cute!

 

[KDK1]

Quote:
The trough is a very easy build. It's simply two 1X8's screwed together on a 45° angle, some sort of end cap and a free spinning cross member to keep the chickens from roosting on it.

 

[ALRwild]

For my chickens I hand feed them treats, because I had the same problem as you. I'll give each chicken one treat at a time. If the others try to push or peck the lowest ranking chicken when it's her turn, then I push them away in return and give her a treat. She should be able to run away with it and come back for another without getting attacked. The trick is that right as she gets her treat you "shove" more treats into the bossy higher ranking chicken's mouths, so that they are distracted.

 

[blueberrychickens]

That's great! Thanks for those pics showing how it's done. Much appreciated!

 

[chic-a-deee]

My six week old pullet Sweet Pea seems to be the one at the top of the pecking order.
She is slightly bigger than the other two...& steals food out of their mouths.
Even the silky Rooster gets things stolen from him............she runs around crazy & steals food right out of his beak.

Its a hilarious to watch as the girls have only been in the big coop for two days!!

He then stands still as, like a statue until she gets too close & gives her a little peck...hehehe

Its soooo funny.

He has the cutest fuzzy little butt...

 

[WriterChick]

I love the trough!

I have a Buff Orpington, Buttercup, who is low in the pecking order and I noticed a couple weeks ago that she wasn't getting any of the treats, so I started hand feeding her on a regular basis right in front of the other hens. All I know is that ever since I've done that, the rest of them let her have a small share of the loot. I still hand feed her though (it's fun!).

Okay, nothing to do with this thread, but I think I'm addicted to my chickens. I'm sitting here at work, taking breaks by reading the forums on this site, and constantly thinking about my chickens - wondering what they are doing, are they having fun, what can I do to make the run and henhouse more comfortable, etc.....

Am I nuts? (okay, I'm nuts....)