Pecking order: Fair or Cruel?

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

The wind is currently going 12mph and at night it’s going to be about 23mph. So, some tips would be nice. Thanks in advance!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The wind is currently going 12mph and at night it’s going to be about 23mph. So, some tips would be nice. Thanks in advance!

Make sure they can get out of the wind.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Okay thanks. They’re inside their coop with plenty of food and water.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Okay thanks. They’re inside their coop with plenty of food and water.

Do you have wind breaks around their run? Something as simple as plywood or pallets can be used to block winds so chickens can still come outside.

 

[SunriseChickers]

Are they pecking her head or rear? If they are pecking at her rear, it's bullying.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

They’re pecking at her head. I realized also that they only mostly peck at her when they are eating something like an apple or pear. So, it might be that she is in their way. It’s nothing serious. They will occasionally peck her randomly but mostly when they are eating a treat. They still tolerate and accept her. Thanks for the help!

 

[aart]

They will occasionally peck her randomly but mostly when they are eating a treat. They still tolerate and accept her.

That's nothing.....they're just 'talking'.

 

[Rhodeislandsilkie]

Yeah, I have a few wooden planks leaning against their run. I think it’s working. Thanks for helping!

 

[chickens really]

Real pecking is disturbing and violent. If no blood is shed it's just Chickens being Chickens...

 

[ShrekDawg]

They’re pecking at her head. I realized also that they only mostly peck at her when they are eating something like an apple or pear. So, it might be that she is in their way. It’s nothing serious. They will occasionally peck her randomly but mostly when they are eating a treat. They still tolerate and accept her. Thanks for the help!

That's nothing.....they're just 'talking'.

X2. Some of mine do this to lower ranking members all the time. My Australorps and Barred Rock are the highest ranking and want all the good treats to themselves so they will peck the Buff Orpingtons and Easter Eggers away. Usually one of the Easter Eggers is allowed but the lower one isn't. And even the other one is not always allowed. Sometimes even the Barred Rock will get pecked and chased away if it's a particularly good treat or the BAs are feeling particularly ornery! Lol what I do to solve this problem and make sure everybody is able to get the treats is I will simply spread it in multiple areas of the run or yard so they can all be eating at once or in different sections. For example, I used to just dump all the treats in one spot, like in the middle of the run, but then I noticed others getting chased away so I started putting some on one end of the run, some on the other far end, some in the middle or corners/outskirts, etc. That way, they kind of naturally separate and the top hens can be in one area while the lower ranking hens are in another area and everyone seems happy that way. But if they do happen to get chased or the top hens get bored, they usually just switch ends and/or there's so many treats all around, the lower hens can still find some scattered around. This seems to help. You might try it as well as multiple food and water bowls. Of course, some people don't mind the pecking order, it is natural after all, but I always feel bad when mine aren't allowed to have the treats and I have particularly greedy/mean top hens so I prefer to just spread the treats around to minimize it and be sure everyone gets some and it doesn't take any extra time or anything. You might try that and see if it helps.