- Mar 12, 2017
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I've got 22 2.5-month old chickens. They were all supposed to be hens, but I think two, possibly three of them have turned out to be roosters.
Anyway, three of the hens are Polishes, - one is buff-laced and the other two are golden-laced. The buff is fine with the others. She holds her own and no one bothers her, even though she is very tiny. The golden-laced ones, however, seem to get picked on more. I've noticed one of them is missing a few tail feathers and is afraid to go for any food until the other ones have eaten. She hangs around the edges of their coop (which is a 10x16 building) and run. She tries to stay close to the other one or the super calm cochins when she does come out into the open. I thought the roosters may be doing the bullying, but it's actually my white rock hens.
I know they are establishing their pecking order and all of that and will continue to do so, and I know to keep an eye out for blood or extreme behaviors, but is there anything else I can do for this particular chicken? I plan to start free-ranging them next week, but they just moved to the new coop earlier this week, so I didn't want to let them out so soon. I know that will help, but I hate for her to keep getting bullied so much this weekend! Thanks!
Anyway, three of the hens are Polishes, - one is buff-laced and the other two are golden-laced. The buff is fine with the others. She holds her own and no one bothers her, even though she is very tiny. The golden-laced ones, however, seem to get picked on more. I've noticed one of them is missing a few tail feathers and is afraid to go for any food until the other ones have eaten. She hangs around the edges of their coop (which is a 10x16 building) and run. She tries to stay close to the other one or the super calm cochins when she does come out into the open. I thought the roosters may be doing the bullying, but it's actually my white rock hens.
I know they are establishing their pecking order and all of that and will continue to do so, and I know to keep an eye out for blood or extreme behaviors, but is there anything else I can do for this particular chicken? I plan to start free-ranging them next week, but they just moved to the new coop earlier this week, so I didn't want to let them out so soon. I know that will help, but I hate for her to keep getting bullied so much this weekend! Thanks!