Picking on Princess Layer

Andjoy74

Hatching
Dec 8, 2018
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Hi

Great to be on this forum. We bought the Taj Mahal which fits beautifully into our yard on Bribie Island. We have 3 chooks - Fleur, Princess Layer and Eggz. Princess Layer is not laying yet - can't be too far off - but Fleur and Eggz are. We have noticed in the last couple of weeks that Princess doesn't want to come out of the nesting boxes or the perches. We have noticed this week that she is pecked by Eggz and both fleur and Eggz steal green food and scraps from her when she is eating. As soon as Eggz comes near her she freezes and raises one of her legs. We have taken to giving her her own time in the run with food, grass/weeds and water. Even then she doesn't eat a lot and we have had to push her into the run. Take Eggz out of the run when we see her peck Princess. Help!
 
Sounds like your set up is smaller? Also sounds like your hens are sexually maturing which can bring out bossy dominant behaviors. They usually grow out of it, but if they don't have enough room to get away from each other it can get worse. How big is your set up?
 
image.jpg Run about 6’ x 10’. Have put in photos. Princess back in the roosting area
 

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View attachment 1611459 Run about 6’ x 10’. Have put in photos. Princess back in the roosting area
It's definitely big enough...you could comfortably hold up to six chickens in there. Oldhen is probably right; it's probably because they're maturing now (and not pecking on her because of "lack" of space). My hens did that somewhat, too, when maturing...trying to figure out who the boss was going to be (it's my Barred Rock, but she's become a mature and fine boss now...whereas when she was establishing it, she was just plain ornery).
 
Thank you all for your feedback. Will keep an eye on Princess and make sure she eats and drinks by herself as well as have time with other chooks
 
Try adding a second feeding and watering station, at least until they all settle down. And a few boredom-busters would likely help, too. Bored hens tend to pick at each other more, and sometimes at themselves. Try adding some roosts at different heights, or a few up-ended logs or circles. You could also hang a cabbage or some other green treat from a rope. My bantams can spend hours playing with those! A mirror, cd disk or aluminum pie pan would work, too - anything shiny that swings when they peck at it.
Good Luck!
 
Hi

Great to be on this forum. We bought the Taj Mahal which fits beautifully into our yard on Bribie Island. We have 3 chooks - Fleur, Princess Layer and Eggz. Princess Layer is not laying yet - can't be too far off - but Fleur and Eggz are. We have noticed in the last couple of weeks that Princess doesn't want to come out of the nesting boxes or the perches. We have noticed this week that she is pecked by Eggz and both fleur and Eggz steal green food and scraps from her when she is eating. As soon as Eggz comes near her she freezes and raises one of her legs. We have taken to giving her her own time in the run with food, grass/weeds and water. Even then she doesn't eat a lot and we have had to push her into the run. Take Eggz out of the run when we see her peck Princess. Help!
She sounds sick, is she swollen anywhere? Pray it doesn’t sound good.
 

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