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[Pork Pie]

@Yorkshire Coop - i discovered the other day that we have Malc’s father here in our apartment block I believe, from his rather camera-shy nature that there is a paternity suit ongoing since he didn’t want to be identified

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

I think you have caught it’s back end there Chris!
I will def show Malc the pic to see if he can shed any light on a family resemblance!

Does Malc’s alleged father have a name? Do you know how old? It looks large!

 

[JemimaP]

Hi everyone sorry not been on for AGES had a family crisis started last November but getting back to normality now. Hope you all had a lovely Xmas.
I have a little question about bullying.
My 2 silver partridge Pekin bantams are bullying my two mottled Pekin bantams. They try to stop them going in the coop at night and my poor baby Bloo hides in a corner trying to be tiny but the 2 bigger ones come and peck her.
I noticed what I thought were mites on the 2 little ones’ combs (not sure if you can see on the photo) but my breeder says it looks like pecking damage which would make sense as the 2 bullies don’t have any marks on their combs.
Can I do anything?

 

[JemimaP]

They jump on my knee as soon as I go outside, maybe for protection?
Super cute tho. Little fluffy butts!!!

 

[Sneebsey]

Yes; that's little scabs from pecking damage; it's normal for birds to peck if a bird lower than her steps out of line, but unusual for birds to actively seek out and bully others. Some start to develop this kind of dominance behaviour when they can't get out foraging and roaming. With my lot it's the weather; when it's too wet and cold they sit under a tree and pull each others' beards out.

 

[PouleChick]

Awww poor little loves! Hopefully it is just teenage tantrums (they are quite young aren't they?) and they'll work themselves out.

when it's too wet and cold they sit under a tree and pull each others' beards out.

Charming

 

[JemimaP]

Hi yes they’re just about coming into lay so I wondered if they’re hormonal. They were born last Easter. They freerange in my garden all day from when the coop opens to when they go to bed and they don’t seem bored but I could be wrong. I did change their food a few days ago so I’ve changed it back in case it was making them stressed somehow? The littlest one is getting the brunt of it and is ending up by herself all day but I did notice her wattle and comb are very red. Maybe she’s about to lay and the ones at the top of the pecking order don’t like that??
Basically only one of them has ever laid eggs I got a handful last autumn then she went broody and stopped. None of the others have laid.
Freeloaders!

 

[MedicDog]

Has anyone else noticed the price of wood shavings going up? I just had to pay £8.50 for a bale

How big is the bale?! I get mine from Wilkinsons and it's £2 for a large bag.

My broody hen is being a pain in the backside at the moment, sitting pretty at the moment but in an inconvenient nest box. I made her a nice broody house but she stood outside it all day, put her back in the main run and she's straight back to her nest box.

I don't mind her being there but it's not great for when they hatch. Do I just wait for this to happen and move them to a separate pen?

 

[Perris]

I don't mind her being there but it's not great for when they hatch. Do I just wait for this to happen and move them to a separate pen?

I had one do this and it was all fine; the rest of the flock just kept out of the way and the chicks were integrated from the start

 

[MedicDog]

I had one do this and it was all fine; the rest of the flock just kept out of the way and the chicks were integrated from the start

My biggest worry is the two foot drop from the nest box to the coop floor, I'll just put a ramp in. I had to save Glenda tonight, she was in there somewhere!