Two pullets excluded from the flock. Advice needed

[Mcse4u]

Hi,
I have a total of 8 hens. 6 were all purchased and raised at the same time, and two Easter eggers were introduced a couple of weeks later. The Easter eggers are about 1.5 weeks younger than the remaining flock. The are all the same size now, and about 15 weeks old. My 'problem' is the two Easter eggers are treated like outsiders in the flock. The leader does not mind them, but #5 & 6 continually harass them and shoo them away from the main flock. The are treated like Rudolph the red nosed reindeer. Never allowed to hang and forage within the main flock. Always kept at a few yards distance.
When locked in the coop, the two do not come down from the roost and feed with the others. They aren't allowed to partake in treats, etc.
While they aren't being physically harmed, the exclusion saddens me. Does anyone have thoughts on how to get them more tightly integrated into the main flock? I don't really have the means to separate #5&6, without keeping them in a small wire crate.

 

[MillersFarm]

Just like Rudolph he became the most popular reindeer there is! you just need time for the rest of your flock to get to know each other.. A safer way is to section off part of your coop/run so they can still see each other but also so they cant fight...

 

[junebuggena]

With every flock there are always dominant birds at the top of the pecking order, bossing everybody around, and those who are at the bottom. Just part of the normal social order of chickens. Nothing you can do to change it.

 

[Mcse4u]

Just like Rudolph he became the most popular reindeer there is! you just need time for the rest of your flock to get to know each other.. A safer way is to section off part of your coop/run so they can still see each other but also so they cant fight...

Coop/run isn't big enough to section off. Odd thing is they all sleep right in a line on the rafters together.

 

[rosemarythyme]

This is more upsetting for humans than the birds I think. As long as they aren't actually hurting each other it's fine, just part of the pecking order. And it's good that they're all willing to roost together without incident.

Only change I can suggest is if possible, set up multiple feed stations to give the lower ranked birds more opportunity to feed without harassment. During the morning I have 3 feed areas several feet apart so even my lowest ranked bird can usually find a spot where she can eat for a while without being bothered.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

This is more upsetting for humans than the birds I think. As long as they aren't actually hurting each other it's fine, just part of the pecking order. And it's good that they're all willing to roost together without incident.

Only change I can suggest is if possible, set up multiple feed stations to give the lower ranked birds more opportunity to feed without harassment. During the morning I have 3 feed areas several feet apart so even my lowest ranked bird can usually find a spot where she can eat for a while without being bothered.

X2
Meddling often causes more damage than good.

 

[Taylorbrood]

maybe one shouldn't meddle but it's tough to see that happening, I have two that were added at the same age as yours and one is the head hen. she is the one in front. all six were harsh on my one hen Gallis, so when I come out with treats like watermellon, etc., they would push her out, so I saved some back and personally fed her, pretty soon they started to come over to where I was wanting what I had, but I made sure Gallis got hers first and then on down the line. maybe it's wrong to do things that way, but they are alot nicer to Gallis when I am around.

 

[junebuggena]

maybe one shouldn't meddle but it's tough to see that happening, I have two that were added at the same age as yours and one is the head hen. she is the one in front. all six were harsh on my one hen Gallis, so when I come out with treats like watermellon, etc., they would push her out, so I saved some back and personally fed her, pretty soon they started to come over to where I was wanting what I had, but I made sure Gallis got hers first and then on down the line. maybe it's wrong to do things that way, but they are alot nicer to Gallis when I am around.

Not doing her any favors. Chickens take their social order very seriously. Everything in their chicken universe revolves around it. It's essential for a harmonious flock.

 

[Mrs. K]

What you can do, is have hideouts, roosts so that birds can get away from each other. This allows them to show submission. A little short wall, such as a waste piece of plywood can make a little wall, that feed can be put behind. Once they all start laying, it generally will make it more of a single flock instead of two sub-flocks.

Even a break can really help, so if you section off a corner, and just put the lower birds in there for a spell each day. It will give them a couple hour break.

Mrs K

 

[Taylorbrood]

Not doing her any favors. Chickens take their social order very seriously. Everything in their chicken universe revolves around it. It's essential for a harmonious flock.

don't get me wrong, they get first stab at what I put in the run, but like I said I hold some back and go feed it to gallis personally in the attached coop run area where she hangs out otherwise she does not get anything. the only one who gets beat up is gallis, Jenny who ranks one above gallis is to fast for them so they leave her alone. The only time they all come together is when I play the internet rooster crowing at night before they go in the coop, they seem to adore him and it works.