mean chickens

[Rebeccahorse]

I have 9 chickens 6 Isa Browns , one RIR, and 2 Araucana. Well I finally finished my coop and put them in there. They segregated themselves. The Isa Brown picked on the other three and would not give up. So I split the coop. Then they started to pick on one of their own. I tried to help her by putting her in with the other three but when I did she started picking on them. Anyone have experience with chickens behaving like this. Is there any way to put them all together without the three getting harassed all the time. I tried neutral territory, I tried putting the 3 in a cage in the middle of the coop, but when I put them all back together the Isa Browns start right back up. Is there a way to solve this or will I have to permanently seperate them?

 

[silkiechicken]

I say if no blood is drawn keep them all together and let the pecking commence. They will calm down once they all learn who's top chick and figure out the rest of the pecking order.

 

[Rebeccahorse]

There is usually no blood drawn, but the RIR, and the 2 Araucanas stay huddled in the corner. I feel sorry for them.

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, I practice tough love and eventually they will figure it out. It will take a bit but as long as there is no blood, try not to feel so bad for them, it might just make it worse if you keep tyring to intervene.

 

[dadingwall]

I got a good reply to that problem which has worked. Hang a cabbage in their run. It seems to keep them occupied with something to peck. It worked. I also tried to give them more space. The boredom of close quarters seems to aggravate pecking. We would get pecky too!