marlaw
Songster
- Apr 24, 2019
- 55
- 199
- 106
I cannot figure out what is going on with my girls and would love to hear some ideas. I spend a lot of time with my chickens and I tried to be as short as possible but it still reads like a soap opera. Hang with me.
The clique of girls in question are: Frida, Buttercup, Maple, and Betty. The first 3 are full blooded sisters (Seramas) and Betty has always been a bunkmate, so she's an "adopted sister". Frida is the leader/alpha. Betty is physically the "runt" and is smooth about avoiding something about to go down, but she holds her ground and isn't to be trifled with. I really can't tell who the real "bottom" is in this group...all I know is Frida is the leader and she is the strong silent type.
Maple used to be Buttercup's Lady In Waiting/BFF. For whatever reason, Buttercup turned on her hard about a year ago and has had it out for her ever since. If a chicken can have PTSD, I think Maple has it from constantly having to be on guard for Buttercup's bullying. Buttercup has been bullying her more and more over the last several weeks, but nothing particularly vicious. Last night, Maple had something caught in her crop. Buttercup noticed at the same time hubs and I did and attacked her in a split second. We snatched Maple up and observed her, all was well after a few minutes. I can't stop thinking about what would've happened if we didn't happen to be standing right there. How quickly and viciously she went after Maple concerns us.
Now I would have no problem putting Buttercup in chicken jail, but a strange thing has developed where when Buttercup gets after Maple, Maple will then immediately go after Betty. Maple and Betty are besties? I don't get it. If I put Buttercup in a time out, I'm afraid Maple is going to just going to try to escalate with Betty. Feel like it would just make things worse somehow.
This is all so weird because Buttercup is TERRIFIED of Betty. Betty has some serious health problems and has been on her death bed TWICE this year. Buttercup tended to her and stayed by her side the entire time. Maple, who Buttercup hates, has a moment of indigestion and she thinks its her opportunity to get rid of her? I could have chickens for 1000 years and not understand some of the things they do, lol.
My idea: I have another hen, The Mother Queen Goddess Specky, who is acquainted with the girls in question. They all have run time together and Frida willingly concedes to her almighty power. I am thinking about integrating Specky sooner than later. She gets all the nuances of the pecking order and plays the Game of Thrones. I wonder if that's adding gasoline to the fire though.
Any ideas? lol
The clique of girls in question are: Frida, Buttercup, Maple, and Betty. The first 3 are full blooded sisters (Seramas) and Betty has always been a bunkmate, so she's an "adopted sister". Frida is the leader/alpha. Betty is physically the "runt" and is smooth about avoiding something about to go down, but she holds her ground and isn't to be trifled with. I really can't tell who the real "bottom" is in this group...all I know is Frida is the leader and she is the strong silent type.
Maple used to be Buttercup's Lady In Waiting/BFF. For whatever reason, Buttercup turned on her hard about a year ago and has had it out for her ever since. If a chicken can have PTSD, I think Maple has it from constantly having to be on guard for Buttercup's bullying. Buttercup has been bullying her more and more over the last several weeks, but nothing particularly vicious. Last night, Maple had something caught in her crop. Buttercup noticed at the same time hubs and I did and attacked her in a split second. We snatched Maple up and observed her, all was well after a few minutes. I can't stop thinking about what would've happened if we didn't happen to be standing right there. How quickly and viciously she went after Maple concerns us.
Now I would have no problem putting Buttercup in chicken jail, but a strange thing has developed where when Buttercup gets after Maple, Maple will then immediately go after Betty. Maple and Betty are besties? I don't get it. If I put Buttercup in a time out, I'm afraid Maple is going to just going to try to escalate with Betty. Feel like it would just make things worse somehow.
This is all so weird because Buttercup is TERRIFIED of Betty. Betty has some serious health problems and has been on her death bed TWICE this year. Buttercup tended to her and stayed by her side the entire time. Maple, who Buttercup hates, has a moment of indigestion and she thinks its her opportunity to get rid of her? I could have chickens for 1000 years and not understand some of the things they do, lol.
My idea: I have another hen, The Mother Queen Goddess Specky, who is acquainted with the girls in question. They all have run time together and Frida willingly concedes to her almighty power. I am thinking about integrating Specky sooner than later. She gets all the nuances of the pecking order and plays the Game of Thrones. I wonder if that's adding gasoline to the fire though.
Any ideas? lol
