New RIR Flock... what to look for....Update-They're HOME!!!!

[gryeyes]

One "nice" thing (putting a good spin on it) about pecking order establishment is that it will start over again in a new location. What was the order at one location might not be what it ends up at a new location. Every time you move a flock, they have to work it out again. Same as when introducing new flock members. So, perhaps the pecking situation will be entirely gone once they all settle into their new home with the new home base pecking order. It has a lot to do with territory, how much space they get, how much roost space they have, etc. When the location dynamic is altered, so is the pecking order.

If you are giving them more space than what they had at their former home, it may eliminate the pecking on that one hen.

 

[ShrekDawg]

OMG! congrats, they are beautiful birds! good luck with your new chickies!

 

[33yardbirds]

Another thing you may want to try when your permanent coop and run are built is to split it in half temporarily. Let the young and older birds eye each other up and get familiar with each other. There will still be squabbleing but it may not be so severe. It works with bees when combining two hives, only newspaper is the seperator between the hive bodies and they chew there way through to each hive integrating the scents. Just some chicken wire or netting will do. Congrats on your RIRs I had them and they are the best. Getting dayolds spring 2011.

 

[Debob]

Congrats on your RIR, they are a great breed to have no matter their age. They will form their own pecking order quickly after getting settled in. You should just watch them for a few days just so none realy get hurt,but they will be ok.

 

[X2Farm]

So we got home safely.. after a detour cuz I completely missed a street

Thank Yall!!! We LOVE em, and the kids are completely ENTHRALLED

So I don't think all of the problem is molting... 3 of the hens have thier backs picked pretty well clean of feathers... agressive mating Roo?

One or two had very red and barren of feathers tushes

Between the bare backs and bare tushes, some spots were fairly pink which would be irritation possibly?

They're fairly friendly, considering the day they've had.

With the heat, they're doin alright. I have a 2liter frozen bottle out there for em, and in the process of freezing some more.

The Roo is HUGE!

Though he's nice enough, and hasn't shown any agressiveness towards me at all. He was great when I transfered him from the cage in the truck to the coop/run. No pecking, nuttin. He DID give me the "stinkeye" when I was pullin all the hens from the cage though

So here's some pictures.. hopefully yall can help me out with the whole missing feathers/irritated skin thing, cuz I'm stuck, bein such a newbie and all

Pardon the crappy wire fencing. This was done last night in a rush. Its safe for a temp place, but it'll be done right once we move

 

[X2Farm]

Here;s some pics of what I was talkin bout....

And one of the hens, the smallest one, has this on her chest

Would putting some sevin dust (5%) down help any if its possibly a bug thing?