Runt is a bully

[Dynamissa]

I have a little buff Orpington puller - tiniest of the bunch, and she is constantly bullying my Easter eggers and my SLW, grabbing feathers and combs and chasing them away from food and scratching activities.

Is there anything I can do? There’s two feeders and enough room but she will literally go from one end of the run to the other to bully the Easter eggers minding their own business.

I can’t even tell where they are on the pecking order - the other Orpington chases her away, one of the Easter eggers chases that Orpington away. We’re fine when roosting. The only one no one messes with is the Delaware but she is not as aggressive as the little Orpington.


Looking for suggestions

 

[sourland]

How old are they? Are they approaching point of lay?

 

[Dynamissa]

How old are they? Are they approaching point of lay?

Both Easter eggers are laying, the rest of the flock hasn’t started yet. Onset of lay can cause this?

I know this little runt Orpington just started bowing for me so any day now. They’re all about 19-20 weeks.

 

[sourland]

Hormones are at an all time high. Hopefully they even out.

 

[Dynamissa]

Hormones are at an all time high. Hopefully they even out.

Ahaaah, I see. It’s a relatively new problem, this bad of aggression. Well, thanks for that! Hopefully she’ll chill out.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Hopefully it's a temporary issue due to hormones (yes birds get wacky around POL). Adding even more feeders, along with clutter to the run, may help minimize bullying regardless.