Pecking order help.

[Chicken-Man]

Okay. I need to know is the pecking order in my flock of hens can be changed. The reason is in this link. https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/903998/advise-please/10#post_13759239 its another Q and A I started yesterday. Please help me!!!!

 

[Chicken-Man]

Oh and there are 2 pages in the link Q and A Start from first post for full short story to why I need help. Thx

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello there and welcome to BYC!

It is difficult if at all possible to change the pecking order of a flock. They have their personalities and status and unless a bird dies, each bird stays in their position until the next one above it is open. Usually thru death or sickness.

You can use pinless peepers on aggressive birds. I have used them on my flock leader and the next bird down to control aggressiveness or during molting to protect birds in a hard molt.

But you can't change how they are. Time, aging and pinless peepers is all you really can do.

 

[sourland]

By removing overly dominant birds for a period of time they may temporarily be demoted in the pecking order, but generally their temperament will allow them to regain their position. Again, big chickens pick on smaller chickens. It is less of a problem if they are raised together. Trying to introduce bantams to an established flock generally causes serious problems.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

 

[gander007]

Why would you want to change the pecking order anyway ????

 

[sourland]

Why would you want to change the pecking order anyway ????

The OP has two young bantams that he is trying to integrate into an established flock of large fowl.

 

[Chicken-Man]

The OP has two young bantams that he is trying to integrate into an established flock of large fowl.

so do i just let them attack and see if they get bred? Will the bantams always live in fear? or is that something you cant really establish...

"Trying to introduce bantams to an established flock generally causes serious problems." Yeah got that part :3

So what can I do to stop them being so fearful??

 

[TwoCrows]

Over time your smaller birds will get better within the flock. But they may always be afraid of the bigger birds. Just make sure you have enough feeding and watering stations around so they are getting their share of the food and water.

I would go sit with your birds and watch how they interact so you know exactly what is going on. If you have one particularly aggressive bird in the bigger flock, you may want to separate this bird out for a month or so or use pinless peepers on them. Usually it is one bird that starts the arguing and the others follow suit. So figure out who is causing all the trouble and go from there. If you can separate this aggressive bird out, or use pinless peepers on the bird, your bantams may have an easier time at life.

 

[Duckopolis]

Good luck with your poultry raising adventures, and I hope you find everything you need to know. Don't forget to take a look at BYC's very useful learning center (If you haven't already)! The learning center as well as the forum should answer your questions! There is always something new to learn! Glad to have you here! See you around with the flock.