- May 17, 2010
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I have an older (red sex link?) hen that i got from a couple near where i live. She was already laying when i got her and the conditions she lived in were not ideal. There were too many birds living in a dark and dank barn. This was our first time ever holding a chicken let alone spotting health issues so we ended up buying her and another hen. The other hen was ill and after a time of trying to help her we ended up culling her.
A few months later we bought a few 5 week old buff orpington chicks. When they were older and after we introduced them there were a few tense days but overall everyone worked it out. The Buffs hang in a little clique and Clucker is avoided whenever possible. She is very pleasant to humans and is easy to manage but to the other birds she is just MEAN.
The problem is that we are having trouble making sure everyone eats. The older hen is brutal about the food. She will gorge herself and still spend most of the day chasing the other birds away from the food. We have tried having food in several areas and she'll just run from one area to another chasing hungry hens away. I know the others are eating when she is laying and that they also grab the occasional bite before she runs over but i am worried.
Is this normal behavior? Does anyone have any suggestions about ways to improve the issue? I'd be grateful for any input.
A few months later we bought a few 5 week old buff orpington chicks. When they were older and after we introduced them there were a few tense days but overall everyone worked it out. The Buffs hang in a little clique and Clucker is avoided whenever possible. She is very pleasant to humans and is easy to manage but to the other birds she is just MEAN.
The problem is that we are having trouble making sure everyone eats. The older hen is brutal about the food. She will gorge herself and still spend most of the day chasing the other birds away from the food. We have tried having food in several areas and she'll just run from one area to another chasing hungry hens away. I know the others are eating when she is laying and that they also grab the occasional bite before she runs over but i am worried.
Is this normal behavior? Does anyone have any suggestions about ways to improve the issue? I'd be grateful for any input.
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