Sweet lone faverolle, bullied.

[MissMaryMac]

This is my 3 month salmon faverolle, Medusa. She's the only faverolle in my mixed flock of 10, ages ranging from 2-3 months. When I got her, I hadn't heard of her breed, and knew nothing of their temperaments. Honestly I just got her because the name was so interesting. They free range in the yard, and she's usually keeping to herself. They bully her a bit, but yesterday one of them pecked her on the nose, and she ended up hiding her head in the corner to keep them from getting her. I know there's a pecking order, and that she's on the bottom, (and that's normal) but I'm still hoping for a way to help. Maybe if I got another faverolle? Any advice or suggestions!

 

[azygous]

Was Medusa was raised alone or was she raised with other chicks her same age?

If she was raised with others her age, it should make little difference that she's the only one of her breed. A good deal of a chicken's self confidence is derived from her "unit", the group of chicks she was raised with. If that unit is at least three or four, it's enough for them to be able to hold their own within the flock.

Personalities do differ, though, some chickens being self confident and others timid. If Medusa is of a timid nature, that may be the reason for her being picked on.

Chickens do change, though. Just because she's at the bottom of the pecking order now does not mean she always will be. I've had timid hens do a complete about face and become self confident. I also have a former tyrant who is now near the bottom and is always being put in her place.

I would try not to meddle too much. Try to let things sort themselves out. The pecking order is very fluid. If you try to intervene every time someone gets pecked, you'll never have time for anything else.

 

[MissMaryMac]

She was raised with the rest, I got them all as hatchlings. They all have at least one more of their breed, she's the only single. She always been very timid, and was often off by herself even in the brooder. And she has NEVER eaten from my hand :[

 

[ShockValue]

I have 4 Faverolles, a Sussex and a Wyandotte. All about 3 months old now.

The Faverolles are by far the most timid of the group. When I call treats the Wyandotte and Sussex come tearing across the yard to get to me. The Faverolles will always cautiously follow to see what is going on first. I have to make sure to save some treats or the other 2 will gobble them up before the others get up enough courage to come get some.

I know there's a pecking order, but I hate hearing about chickens getting bullied. Although my 4 are at the bottom, they don't seem to be getting bullied luckily.

 

[jonalisa]

Hey MissMary,

I am curious to know how things have worked out for your Faverolle.
I have a Buff Brahma raised with 8 other chicks (all hatched the same day) and all are different breeds. They are almost 3 months old and the Brahma (who is the largest hen) is at the very bottom of the pecking order. No real bullying that I have seen, but she is timid, always alone or behind and usually set apart from the others on the roost at night - and not by choice. She's the only one who won't let me pet her; she's so shy.

Did your hen's pecking order change at all?

Thanks,
jonalisa

 

[MissMaryMac]

It did change! Everything settled down, I'm assuming it's because they established their pecking order. She's still a bit of a loner, but I think that's just the breed. She's a weird chicken. Haha.

 

[MissMaryMac]

Here she is a couple weeks ago. Her comb and wattles are a little redder now though, and she's recently started squatting!

 

[Folly's place]

I have had Favorelles and really like them. BUT they tend to be timid and bullied by bolder flockmates. My Favorelle rooster was at the bottom of the rooster pecking order. I gave him to a friend with a few hens, which worked out much better. I think either get a group of Favorelles, or at least be very careful picking other breeds as flockmates. Mary

 

[jonalisa]

It did change! Everything settled down, I'm assuming it's because they established their pecking order. She's still a bit of a loner, but I think that's just the breed. She's a weird chicken. Haha.

Thanks for replying. That's good to know, I will keep my fingers crossed!

 

[YgritteChick]

I have had Favorelles and really like them. BUT they tend to be timid and bullied by bolder flockmates. My Favorelle rooster was at the bottom of the rooster pecking order. I gave him to a friend with a few hens, which worked out much better. I think either get a group of Favorelles, or at least be very careful picking other breeds as flockmates. Mary

I have a Faverolle cockerel that I really love his appearance and he seems nice to everyone, but all of the non-Faverolle chicks that I have seem to pick on him. My chicks are all around 9 weeks old and currently I have too many cockerels, I am trying to decide which to keep. You said that you gave your rooster away to someone with a small flock and he was happier, does that mean that Faverolle roosters are only happy in very docile flocks or small ones?