So, do new layers ever chill out over resource guarding?

[thecatumbrella]

Because we are now guarding pellets, the most reviled of foods. And I get it, egg laying is hard work and your body's going through changes and all that mumbo jumbo. But my sweet little pullet has basically turned into Chris Farley on SNL.

Of course, she's going after the one with a slight hobble. Please tell me this is temporary and not "the new her".

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Because we are now guarding pellets, the most reviled of foods. And I get it, egg laying is hard work and your body's going through changes and all that mumbo jumbo. But my sweet little pullet has basically turned into Chris Farley on SNL.

View attachment 4189577

Of course, she's going after the one with a slight hobble. Please tell me this is temporary and not "the new her".

I know you’ve got a beautifully organized run, but I can’t remember the feeder layout. How many do you have? Is there a way to locate multiple feeders so that your new layer will just give up trying to guard them?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I know you’ve got a beautifully organized run, but I can’t remember the feeder layout. How many do you have? Is there a way to locate multiple feeders so that your new layer will just give up trying to guard them?

There are 3 feeders for 4 birds, plus pellets scattered around the entire perimeter.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

There are 3 feeders for 4 birds, plus pellets scattered around the entire perimeter.

^^ That reaction was laughing in sympathy + shaking my head at chickens. My verge-of-death-by-starvation older pullet (the Barred Rock) is bullying the littles also. She’s very close to exchanging her spot with the bigs for the wire dog crate currently used for sleeping by the littles.

Following this one.

 

[thecatumbrella]

^^ That reaction was laughing in sympathy + shaking my head at chickens. My verge-of-death-by-starvation older pullet (the Barred Rock) is bullying the littles also. She’s very close to exchanging her spot with the bigs for the wire dog crate currently used for sleeping by the littles.

Following this one.

These birds, man. I'm ready to go out for milk and never come back. Thinking of starting a thread to ask if people have ever scrapped a small flock because the breed was a letdown.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

These birds, man. I'm ready to go out for milk and never come back. Thinking of starting a thread to ask if people have ever scrapped a small flock because the breed was a letdown.

I hear ya. I’ve given up on expecting certain behaviors by breeds, though. Barred Rocks made my breed list because they were supposed to be so quiet and docile. Ha!

Edit to add: a squirt gun is now on my shopping list.

 

[BoundlessLove]

Imagining that GIF but with chickens.
What breed/s do you have?

 

[thecatumbrella]

I hear ya. I’ve given up on expecting certain behaviors by breeds, though. Barred Rocks made my breed list because they were supposed to be so quiet and docile. Ha!

Edit to add: a squirt gun is now on my shopping list.

Barred Rocks seem to be hit or miss. They've always sounded close to perfect on paper, but then I see so many people having issues with them. I'm sure hatchery stock doesn't help things.

I've tried to get some squirt gun traction going in other threads, but no one ever seems interested. I mean, it works for cats, and a chicken is basically a cat with a sword on its face. Please report back with your results!

What breed/s do you have?

Everyone's a Cochin (Pekin) Bantam, with the exception of a single d'Uccle.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Imagining that GIF but with chickens.
What breed/s do you have?

Asking @thecatumbrella or me?

My list is short: Bigs: Barred Rock, Buff Orpington, EE. Littles: Speckled Sussex, another EE.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

… and a chicken is basically a cat with a sword on its face.

troof!