Moody new layer pecking other chicken

PVC pipe auto feeders in run always full with layer feed crumbles.
Treats in AM...handful of scratch or fruit & veggie scraps, scrambled eggs 1x a week. If it’s over 90 I’ll give them frozen watermelon in the PM. Sometimes a cabbage or veggie piñata
Might want to cut back on the treats, later feed is meant to be sole ration.
Here's how I beat the heat waves:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hot-weather-spiel.75893/

Hopefully that’s all it is. Even though she only pecks my EE they all seem pretty terrified of her before she finally goes in to lay her egg.
EE could be 'low bird'...hopefully once they are all laying, things will settle down.
 
Might want to cut back on the treats, later feed is meant to be sole ration.
Here's how I beat the heat waves:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/aarts-hot-weather-spiel.75893/
They don’t get a large amount of treats. I mainly sprinkle the scratch so they’ll churn the bedding. They work real hard to find every morsel 😆
They were started to eat feathers so I added in a single egg weekly. They love it. (Hate mealworms 🤷🏻‍♀️) I did feel bad giving them watermelon every day...but we were over 100 for so long...I didn’t want any to die. We have a mister set up on the outside of the run. (I don’t want things getting soaked) it’s amazing how much it cools the air around them. As long as they aren’t still panting I skip the watermelon.
Ill try to electrolytes in one of the waters although I think this is finally our last week in the 90s!
 
They don’t get a large amount of treats. I mainly sprinkle the scratch so they’ll churn the bedding. They work real hard to find every morsel 😆
They were started to eat feathers so I added in a single egg weekly. They love it. (Hate mealworms 🤷🏻‍♀️) I did feel bad giving them watermelon every day...but we were over 100 for so long...I didn’t want any to die. We have a mister set up on the outside of the run. (I don’t want things getting soaked) it’s amazing how much it cools the air around them. As long as they aren’t still panting I skip the watermelon.
Ill try to electrolytes in one of the waters although I think this is finally our last week in the 90s!
Well, remember for next year. ;)
It really helps, better than any 'cold food'....
...plus I don't waste watermelon flesh on the chickens, they do get the rinds frozen tho.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
1602006597796.png
 
Well, remember for next year. ;)
It really helps, better than any 'cold food'....
...plus I don't waste watermelon flesh on the chickens, they do get the rinds frozen tho.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!
View attachment 2362487
Thanks I will do that!
I am in SW Utah btw...climate very similar to Vegas. Hot and dry
 
I’ve noticed the last few days my Golden Buff targets my Easter Egger. My EE is a bit high strung, loud, and dashes around a lot, but now anytime she crosses my GB’s path, she gets pecked hard on the back of the neck/head. It’s usually just a single peck but hard enough to make my EE squawk (no blood)...and sometimes it’s just because she is nearby...not actually doing anything. Today a feather got pulled.
My GB doesn’t do this to anyone else...and no one else pecks anyone this hard. Usually they give each other the “back off” look and the lower chicken stops what they’re doing. Or they take a “swing” but don’t actually make contact. My GB actually goes out of her way to make sure my EE gets her peck.
My GB just barely started laying two days ago...and has been pretty dramatic about it. Could this just be hormonal chicken behavior? Or is this the beginning of a problem?
UPDATE
Now there is more fighting! My Austra White and other Golden Buff are getting ready to lay (submissive squat when I pet them) and now they are both going after my Welsummer. Poor thing is hiding in the coop too afraid to come out. So 3 aggressors, 2 victims, and 1 neutral. Please tell me this is normal new layer behavior and they’ll calm down soon 😢
 
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UPDATE
Now there is more fighting! My Austra White and other Golden Buff are getting ready to lay (submissive squat when I pet them) and now they are both going after my Welsummer. Poor thing is hiding in the coop too afraid to come out. So 3 aggressors, 2 victims, and 1 neutral. Please tell me this is normal new layer behavior and they’ll calm down soon 😢
UPDATE 2- whatever was happening is over...at least for today. I saw my Welsummer (victim) and Austra white (aggressor) dust bathing...TOGETHER. They used to be buddies so maybe they remembered that? Everyone else was moseying about like normal. Yay for harmony in the coop again!!! ❤️
 

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