RIRs won't share food with my cream legbar and her chicks

[citychicks99]

I have three RIRs and one cream legbar. She and one other RIR is a new addition since August. The two existing RIRs will eat with the new RIR but all of them are picking on the cream legbar and won't let her and her chicks eat. Maybe it's because the breed is less aggressive than RIRs because one of the RIR is smaller than her but still picks on her. I have to leave a lot of food out in many different places just to make sure the chicks get food. In the morning, I'll get them in the dog cage and close it but not latch it so the other RIRs can't get in but they can get out. However, I'm not always successful in getting them in their cage.

Will they all eventually be able to get along and eat together or will I just have to keep spreading food out? I don't like doing this because it attracts pests. I also saw the smaller RIR picking on the chicks when they were trying to roost. It's too bad their mama can't come to their defense.

I've been thinking of getting more chicks in the summer. Maybe Buff Orpingtons or Australorps. I've read that these breeds tend to be more docile. If there's more of them together, will the RIRs finally chill out and share?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It will be good when someone comes in with a more positive experience than mine with RIR's so just take mine as just one perspective.......... I just do not get RIR's anymore. One of my first flocks was all RIR's,great layers but 2 out of 6 I gave away as my kids wouldn't even go outside for fear of getting pecked (all hens.) My next flock I had just 1 RIR. She did great with only her flockmates. Anytime that I integrated a newbie, she was the one they feared. She was not top lady, just top mean lady. I started picking breeds that I new were "less mean" and eventually with a flock of Orpingtons, Creme Legars, EE, OE, basically all nice but her, I gave her away and I'm just not getting RIR's again I have my desired peace in the flock up to 15, just by getting "nicer breeds." So the net is hang in there, but don't expect a Creme Legbar to stand up to a mean RIR and for sure keep on eye on how bad the bullying gets with the chicks, provide ways for them to be safe.