why wont my pecking order calm down?!

[Johnn]

my pecking order wont calm down, at feeding times the hens don't just peck each other out the way they get beaten to move or flapped at, and if a hen is infront on one above it that hen will charge at her and chase her for no reason, they just wont calm down!!!. any ideas why?

 

[Fred's Hens]

You might try an additional feeding station, a longer trough, with enough room for everyone, or having one feeder where there is always feed, during daylight hours.

In others, lessening the tension of "the" feeding time and all the competition that goes with it.

You may see it as being chased "for no reason", but the birds know the reason.

 

[Volkova]

I recommend you split the food up a bit too. Chickens are very impulsive and won't share with each other.

If it get's worse, split the chickens into groups and let each group out at a time.

If it get's really bad, use an anti-peck spray you can buy online or from a pet store, use it on the "lowest ranked" of the chickens, to discourage pecking and fighting.

 

[Johnn]

You might try an additional feeding station, a longer trough, with enough room for everyone, or having one feeder where there is always feed, during daylight hours.

In others, lessening the tension of "the" feeding time and all the competition that goes with it.

You may see it as being chased "for no reason", but the birds know the reason.

iv'e just baught them another feeder, they know have a 150cm long trough and 100 cm long trough a round feeder hangin off the tree, 3 different bowls and 3 or 4 piles on the floor :/

 

[Johnn]

I recommend you split the food up a bit too. Chickens are very impulsive and won't share with each other.

If it get's worse, split the chickens into groups and let each group out at a time.

If it get's really bad, use an anti-peck spray you can buy online or from a pet store, use it on the "lowest ranked" of the chickens, to discourage pecking and fighting.

what does anti peck spray do??

 

[Volkova]

Anti-peck spray comes in two forms; 1 for injury and another general version. I recommend the general for this situation.

Anti-peck spray leaves a 'foul' taste on your chicken's feathers, which deter the others from pecking or attacking it. It is used to introduce new hens into a flock so that they don't fight or peck each other. It doesn't harm the birds at all, just puts them off pecking each other and can calm down the aggression between chickens.

 

[Johnn]

Anti-peck spray comes in two forms; 1 for injury and another general version. I recommend the general for this situation.

Anti-peck spray leaves a 'foul' taste on your chicken's feathers, which deter the others from pecking or attacking it. It is used to introduce new hens into a flock so that they don't fight or peck each other. It doesn't harm the birds at all, just puts them off pecking each other and can calm down the aggression between chickens.

what if the hen challenges another hen? wont that mean my old hens will loose because they dont want to peck her? that would make me feel bad...

 

[Johnn]

Iv'e just been given a hen with 15 chicks, she is in quarantine now and i think i might keep her there untill her chicks leave in a month or so, then put the mother with the flock and cover her in anti peck spray! but how often do i have to re-spray her??

 

[Volkova]

what if the hen challenges another hen? wont that mean my old hens will loose because they dont want to peck her? that would make me feel bad...

Usually, the lower ranked hens won't challenge higher ranked unless there are certain factors (like new hens, change in environment etc.). You may wish to spray all the hens but that would be fairly time consuming. If you want to know more about the pecking order, take a look at a mini-guide I made earlier:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...cial-status-how-to-identify-the-pecking-order

 

[Volkova]

Iv'e just been given a hen with 15 chicks, she is in quarantine now and i think i might keep her there untill her chicks leave in a month or so, then put the mother with the flock and cover her in anti peck spray! but how often do i have to re-spray her??

Good to here you have quarantined her. I would follow the official instructions given by the manufacturer, but on a general basis, a quick spray on the back once a day for about 5 days will do. Make sure you get a more general one than one aimed at ill chickens, although, it will help clear her of any ills or disease she may be carrying, since healthy chickens are still sensitive to foreign bodies. If it is working but you still feel she is not fully integrated then keep going for another 3 days. By then, the flock would be at 'peace'. Don't be worried about the occasional peck, that is important for the hen to know where she stands.