Pecking order, treats, suddenly mean BR

[beginnergirl]

Please help me understand why my barred rock who just started laying is being mean all the sudden. Could she be hormonal? She is suddenly pecking viciously at both other pullets on the roost and starting to chase them away when I have treats.

My pullets are 20~21 weeks. A BR, EE and SLW. Bought the SLW and EE together as several day old chicks. Then got the BR chick a week later. BR was always at the bottom of the pecking order but has been on top for many months. All roosted together from the beginning and still do.

I think I may have caused this by giving the BR's favorite treat to the others? I have been calling each pullet by name and giving a treat for coming every day since they were chicks. The EE and SLW knew their names. BR girl comes to every name and will snatch food away from others. I try to close my hand and give treat to the one I call. Then I throw out lots of lower value treats. There is usually no problem with grain or greens but BR is so aware and FAST she often gets most of the fruit and seed treats. I try to hand feed so each gets some.

Pecking earlier that I witnessed has been one light tap and wasn't concerning. Problem with mean pecking began when I decided to see if I could trim nails as a few looked a little long. I was SO proud of myself. I trimmed 2-3 nails on 2 of the girls by myself. Had never done it. No struggling. Girls had no issue with my holding their feet. They just sat on my lap, my one arm over their back and holding one toe. The clipping with other hand. Had a large tomato from the garden so held each bird as they did not struggle and let them eat the tomato out of my hand as a reward. These two girls hardly ever get tomatoes.

My BR is INSANE about tomatoes. Is so fast that often she will get ALL the tomatoes even when scattered over a 20' area. She also jumps up and grabs them out of my hand.

I guess she probably saw the other two eating the tomato and within 10 minutes, all returned to the coop. BR started pecking the others hard over and over. She wouldn't stop.

I put her in the run for a few minutes but she started squawking loudly. She HATES to be isolated and of all my chickens is the most vocal. Spent 30 minutes trying to monitor them. She settled down.

Last night I only gave tomatoes to her. She perched on my arm and ate. Then in the coop the other chickens tried nervously roosting in the run for the first time. That only lasted a few minutes before they headed to the coop. Then the other two huddled on one end of the roost. Coop is 18 sq feet with 2 roosts, each 3'. Girls always roost on the narrower lower roost. So last night BR started pecking at SLW. EE tried to hide under SLW. I opened coop, yelled at BR. Things settled down though both other girls crammed together on the same roost away from BR looking stressed. Checked them in 20 minutes and all quiet and huddled together.

Not sure what to. Don't want anyone to get hurt. Also notice now the BR is in the yard away from others. Three are together at times but used to always be together when free ranging.

Any insight appreciated. I do no understand chicken behavior. THANK YOU in advance.
Apologize for reposting. I put this in the wrong section initially. Not sure if this is where to post it.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't think chickens get jealous, but they do maintain a strict pecking order and you might be messing that up a bit, so your hen feels the need to reinforce her position, top hens get the goods, that the way it is, it also doesn't help you only have three hens, there are only two others for her to peck, my suggestion is to toss your treats on the ground and let them do what is natural as far as who gets what.

Your hen has reached sexual maturity and unfortunately those sweet chick days are gone. The more you try to interfere the more you mess it up, chickens aren't dogs, they cannot be trained like them, nor does punishment work. Just make sure you bring enough for everybody and you toss it in three different directions.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have noticed that a laying hen is a higher in the pecking order, this might go away when the others come into lay.

Generally space is the problem, when you have had a flock that got along, all of a sudden not get along.

Personally, this bird is not pleasing you, lots of people would like a bird that is just starting to lay. She should lay well all winter. Sell her for $20.00 and buy some new chicks next spring trying a different breed.

Mrs K

 

[beginnergirl]

I don't think chickens get jealous, but they do maintain a strict pecking order and you might be messing that up a bit, so your hen feels the need to reinforce her position, top hens get the goods, that the way it is, it also doesn't help you only have three hens, there are only two others for her to peck, my suggestion is to toss your treats on the ground and let them do what is natural as far as who gets what.

Your hen has reached sexual maturity and unfortunately those sweet chick days are gone. The more you try to interfere the more you mess it up, chickens aren't dogs, they cannot be trained like them, nor does punishment work. Just make sure you bring enough for everybody and you toss it in three different directions.

OldHenLikesDog,

Many thanks for your insight! I have been training my chickens like dogs. It is what I know. I will try your suggestion about throwing out treats. I don't want to mess with their pecking order.

But how can I keep working with and handling my pullets without giving them any positive reinforcement? I am seeing the pullets changing and I still want to be able to handle them. Is this possible without treats?

Any good books to read? I do need to learn as all I know are dogs and cats.

MANY THANKS for taking the time to read my post and write your very helpful reply. Will let you know how it goes.

Also is it okay to give the BR treats? She follows me around and is very trainable. Hops up a step stool or on my lap etc.

Lastly does anyone feel badly for the lower ranking pullets?

 

[beginnergirl]

I have noticed that a laying hen is a higher in the pecking order, this might go away when the others come into lay.

Generally space is the problem, when you have had a flock that got along, all of a sudden not get along.

Personally, this bird is not pleasing you, lots of people would like a bird that is just starting to lay. She should lay well all winter. Sell her for $20.00 and buy some new chicks next spring trying a different breed.

Mrs K

Hi Mrs K,

You misunderstand. I love this BR and don't want to get rid of her. I just don't want her to hurt the others. I don't understand chicken behavior. She is very friendly to me. I have more space than is recommended. 6 sq feet per bird in the coop, 6' of roosts, and 12 sq feet per hen in the run. I do suspect giving the lower ranking hens treats may have caused this. But will see how it goes.

Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

OldHenLikesDog,

Many thanks for your insight! I have been training my chickens like dogs. It is what I know. I will try your suggestion about throwing out treats. I don't want to mess with their pecking order.

But how can I keep working with and handling my pullets without giving them any positive reinforcement? I am seeing the pullets changing and I still want to be able to handle them. Is this possible without treats?

Any good books to read? I do need to learn as all I know are dogs and cats.

MANY THANKS for taking the time to read my post and write your very helpful reply. Will let you know how it goes.

Also is it okay to give the BR treats? She follows me around and is very trainable. Hops up a step stool or on my lap etc.

Lastly does anyone feel badly for the lower ranking pullets?

You should continue to train your chickens if you wish, sounds like you are good at it, you just have to keep chicken behavior in your mind as you do it, top hen gets all she wants first, I'm sure as they all come into lay things will calm down a bit. I have learned chicken behavior by watching their interactions, who knows maybe your hen is jealous, and I haven't seen that behavior before, there is always more to learn.

I feel terrible for the bottom birds and often feed them on the sly, one hides in the donkeys hay trough and I feed her in there.

 

[beginnergirl]

You should continue to train your chickens if you wish, sounds like you are good at it, you just have to keep chicken behavior in your mind as you do it, top hen gets all she wants first, I'm sure as they all come into lay things will calm down a bit. I have learned chicken behavior by watching their interactions, who knows maybe your hen is jealous, and I haven't seen that behavior before, there is always more to learn.

I feel terrible for the bottom birds and often feed them on the sly, one hides in the donkeys hay trough and I feed her in there.

Haha. Glad you find a way to give treats to the bottom ranking chickens. When the coop was under construction, my chickens were outside in an Xpen during the day and I brought each one inside and spent time alone with each chicken as they were indoors at night. I may bring them indoors or into the garage so Willow the BR "queen" won't see the others getting treats. She has an eagle eye and I love watching her grab flying bugs. Even when she wanders away she always comes running if she sees me with the others.
Very helpful to know that when the other hens begin laying that things might calm down!!!

I have been giving the BR the first treats, giving her more for months. Trying to reinforce her position. Yesterday I threw out treats as you suggested and did no hand feeding except to Willow. She still pecked at the others on the roost. Not as bad but I hate seeing it. She only does this on the roost. Not in the run or in the yard.

Wish the others would use a different roost to get away from her. They huddle at the end of the roost.
As far as training, it is fun. It is about building the relationship for me. I trained hard to train dogs and learned a lot.

I've so much to learn and am grateful for any help and suggestions. Chickens are more fun than I ever imagined!