SpiceGurlz
In the Brooder
- Jul 27, 2025
- 10
- 17
- 21
I had a broody chicken, so I decided to put some fertile eggs under her. Only 3 of the 6 hatched and 2 were roosters (of course!) so I've given them away and only added one new pullet to the flock. The other hens seemed to accept her, probably because she was hatched by the chook at the top of the pecking order who started out protecting her. I was given two new hens, who I gradually introduced to the flock very successfully. Being the largest hens, the new ones jumped straight up the pecking order to the top.
Since their arrival, all the chickens are picking on my baby pullet. Her adoptive mother is the worst of all. They chase her away from the feeder and around their spacious paddock. Although all of them have their wings clipped, the baby pullet is the only one who can fly over the fence to the neighbour's, which she does daily (who can blame her?). While she's out, she lays her eggs. Occasionally I find them, but usually not. I don't expect the other hens allow her to lay in the nest boxes.
What can I do? I can't seem to keep her in the paddock and she needs to be able to escape her bullies. But I don't want her scratching up the veggie patch or my neighbour's garden and if she's not going to leave me eggs where I can find them, there's not much point keeping her... I've tried putting her in a small run by herself, but that seems mean. Is there a way to teach the other chooks not to pick on her? Ideas?
Since their arrival, all the chickens are picking on my baby pullet. Her adoptive mother is the worst of all. They chase her away from the feeder and around their spacious paddock. Although all of them have their wings clipped, the baby pullet is the only one who can fly over the fence to the neighbour's, which she does daily (who can blame her?). While she's out, she lays her eggs. Occasionally I find them, but usually not. I don't expect the other hens allow her to lay in the nest boxes.
What can I do? I can't seem to keep her in the paddock and she needs to be able to escape her bullies. But I don't want her scratching up the veggie patch or my neighbour's garden and if she's not going to leave me eggs where I can find them, there's not much point keeping her... I've tried putting her in a small run by herself, but that seems mean. Is there a way to teach the other chooks not to pick on her? Ideas?
