witness hens spuring,peckingand being just down right mean to the young pullets.

[bucky52]

i now its the pecking order.but when you have near death injuries.its time to seperate.its been ten days since i found one of my young pullets,hanging by one of her toes.i fed and watered and left for work.it was 6:30 pm.when i found her.it still upsets me to think how long she hung there.i bought her in the house and nursed her back.she walked with a limp.but i noticed on fri.when i had them out free ranging she was walking much better.
sun i came home.went to check on them and found the same pullet sitting in a corner of the run.as i approched her she would not move.i picked her up.and she whimpered and was very weak.i took in the house and my dh and i syringed water in her mouth and she perk up and i gave her food and she ate as if she had not had food for days.and when i took her outside and sat her down she was limping more than before.these pullets and hens have been in the same run for months.i had noticed the pecking and chaseing the pullets away from the food.but i realized that is normal.these pullets are just coming into lay.i thought that all was well.so observe and pay attention to your flock.it may save you alot of grief.so my story is the hens were not letting the young pullets eat or drink.

 

[donrae]

It's wise to have more than one feeder and water source so the mean biddies can't completely dominate the supply. And be sure you have enough space for everyone to stay out of each other's way.

 

[bucky52]

i put food on each end of the run.and i have automatic feeders in each coop.my run is 12x30 and i have a total of seven chickens.i can see that my hens do not want to share their space and food.since i seperated them.the two flocks since lot happier and more content.