Do any of you have hens who don't like the other hens to lay? I recently acquired 5 laying hens. The Australorp has been a trooper, and given me 4 eggs this week, despite the move, new coop, unfamiliar surroundings, and nasty cold weather. One of the other girls has contributed one egg to the collection. Otherwise, no one is giving up the goods yet. BUT, the Australorp is 4th on a 5 hen pecking order, and #1 (the Barred Rock) and #3 (the EE) go chase her out of the coop if they know she's about to lay an egg. She can't make any noise, and has to trick them into letting her in there. (Pretty funny, actually... she goes and eats at the BR's favorite feeder, which draws the BR over there to chase her away. Then, while Brunhilda the BR is eating, Black Adder the BA sneaks into the coop!)
Anyway... long story longer... is this a normal hen thing? They don't just chase her out of her fave spot (under the nexting boxes
), but they harrass her right out of the coop.
Anyway... long story longer... is this a normal hen thing? They don't just chase her out of her fave spot (under the nexting boxes
