Why won't my big girls play nice???

[amandawv]

i have the most lovesble little Deleware/mix chick. She is so dag gone sweet! But my older girls (13 months) are so mean to her. She's about 8 weeks old and has been in the coop for about 3-4 weeks now. She's my only baby and there are the older ones. Will they ever get along? Why do they have to be so mean?

 

[mmmeyer]

shes younger and smaller and chickens love to inforce the pecking order. So they do

 

[AmericaHens]

It's called henpecking. They just like to pick on the smaller chickens. And they will never be nice to your smaller chicken. Sorry

 

[junebuggena]

As long as nobody is seriously harming her, I think it will be fine. Once she grows up a bit, her standing in the flock may change. At 8 weeks old, she is significantly smaller and younger than your other birds. You might try getting a few pullets the same age as her so she can be a part of a flock her own age. In a few months you could integrate the two groups.

 

[amandawv]

She's the loan surviver of my group of babies. (Had 3 but my dog killed 2!). I know there is a pecking order but they really bully her. I wonder if she will ever fit in.

 

[junebuggena]

The next 4 to 6 months may be really rough for her, but once she catches up in size and maturity, things may change.