im glad you guys arent afraid to wack their little butts (ive only read the first pg...but so far so good lol)....ive heard of too many people talk about "animal cruelty" well u know what its that or "human cruelty" sorry, but the other chickens put each other in place to establish the pecking order, we have to do the same....all we are to them are the feeders and caregivers and its easy to take advantage of that...and they do. ive grown up around horses and all i ever hear beginners say is "oh no, thats mean dont hit the horse"....guess what? if they can take another 1,000 pound animal kicking them to put them in their place, i definitely need to show them i mean business.....otherwise guess whos getting kicked? ya ER for sure if not worse. i understand that chickens arent 1000 pound animals, but the same as horses and anything else, they get picked on by things that are equal or slightly greater/lesser in size and handle it just fine...and not just one at a time usually, most of the time its several of them picking on one....and u dont have to hit them like u would a horse when its back, but like a chicken would do to another chicken. obviously you have to step it up a notch or more when necessary....they are livestock and wild by nature and must be shown whos the head hen or rooster. my point is animals show their dominance by pain...it is the only way they understand/respond to...you cant go and put them in the corner or ground them...even if u did they wouldnt get it.....lol anyways, we must be the dominant one and that must be displayed by slight inflictions of pain if you are being challenged....just thought id share my opinions on things...hope that helps and that no one gets offended....im sure they'll be some though