So how long does it take for new chickens to work out pecking order? I'm worried about the new Araucana and Wheaten Ameraucana. The Araucana is a BULLY. I had both of them in the mini coop for the past weeks and finally started letting them out to free range in the back yard and the first thing the Araucana did was take off after everyone she met up with - she challenged the cockerels, chest bumping, hackles ruffled, she RAN after my Faverolles and jumped on their backs, riding them into terror and if a group of them are enjoying treats, she'll butt in and let them know she'll take over from here.
This girl is half the size of most of my flock, but she doesn't let that stop her. It appears her quarentine time with the Wheaten Ameraucana has turned the Wheaten into a quivering mass of insecurity, so I think I'll take her out of the mini coop and let her have some quiet time and individual attention. She'll live in the bunny cage for a while for her own safety. It appears the Araucana has been picking at her.
I tried putting the Araucana in a time out cage for a couple of days and that didn't faze her at all.
Will she eventually calm down and quit being such a brat? I'm worried about the rest of my docile flock. Is there something I can do to take her attitude down a few notches? I don't send my chickens to freezer camp, but if she continues like this she may be looking for a new home, which is too bad because she has given us a few very nice blue eggs, but that's not enough to redeem her.
The Araucana was supposed to be DD's bird, but I'm sure DD doesn't want the rest of our beloved birds terrorized either.
