Zinnia is in Chicken Jail

[Aunt Angus]

It's weird. Mama and baby are still inseparable. Baby still sleeps under mama's wing. Mama just doesn't always stop the pecking anymore. She steps in sometimes, but not always.

What do y'all think? Bullying? Normal pecking order stuff?

 

[Henriettamom919]

What's worse is that all of the chicks I ordered died anyway. I could have gotten more. I *should* have gotten more. But, as aformentioned, I am an idiot.

You are NOT an idiot! This beginner chicken dynamics stuff is right up there with school yard politics! You can't know until you know! You're asking the right questions and trying to do right by your flock and that's all you can do!

 

[Henriettamom919]

It's weird. Mama and baby are still inseparable. Baby still sleeps under mama's wing. Mama just doesn't always stop the pecking anymore. She steps in sometimes, but not always.

What do y'all think? Bullying? Normal pecking order stuff?

Given the setup it sounds pretty normal. Do what you can to smooth the way but be prepared for a couple tough days integrating the single pullet. Get some Blukote to have on hand just in case and try to give around as much as possible to distract during the initial couple of days.

There's going to be *some* pecking, chasing and fighting. Obviously you want to avoid serious injury and I think chicken jail for your most aggressive hen is a good idea.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have 5 hens

Zinnia and the other big girls are 11 months. Youngest is almost 3 months, but they are pretty close in size.

I posted a video of some of the interactions a few weeks back and was told that since Zinnia isnt letting the little eat, I needed to intervene.

It's weird. Mama and baby are still inseparable. Baby still sleeps under mama's wing. Mama just doesn't always stop the pecking anymore. She steps in sometimes, but not always.
What do y'all think? Bullying? Normal pecking order stuff?

Can she reach the feeders?
She's basically by herself. "Mom" might intervene some, but likely the chick is getting older so she's distancing herself during the day. Mom probably is not going to cross it up with Zinnia too much either.
In this particular video, to me, it looks fairly normal pecking order stuff. It's interesting if Zinnia is top hen that she's doing the chasing. Ime, lower ranking birds are the one that don't welcome newbies. The pecking order can be quite brutal at times.
You have to do what you think is best. I would make a feeder lower or stationary.
Check her crop at night to see if she has food in it.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Can she reach the feeders?
She's basically by herself. "Mom" might intervene some, but likely the chick is getting older so she's distancing herself during the day. Mom probably is not going to cross it up with Zinnia too much either.
In this particular video, to me, it looks fairly normal pecking order stuff. It's interesting if Zinnia is top hen that she's doing the chasing. Ime, lower ranking birds are the one that don't welcome newbies. The pecking order can be quite brutal at times.
You have to do what you think is best. I would make a feeder lower or stationary.
Check her crop at night to see if she has food in it.
View attachment 1821373

Thanks, @Wyorp Rock . She can reach the feeders, and she has her own feeders (2 of them - one in the coop and one in the run; you can't see them in the video). There are a few Bryony-only areas both in the coop and the run that the big girls can't access.

Looking back, I should have canceled my chick order and just picked up a couple more chicks for my broody. I want her to hurry up and grow so she can start standing up for herself.

I let Zinnia out of jail today because I felt bad for her.

 

[Willowspirit]

It's weird. Mama and baby are still inseparable. Baby still sleeps under mama's wing. Mama just doesn't always stop the pecking anymore. She steps in sometimes, but not always.

What do y'all think? Bullying? Normal pecking order stuff?

Blood is my line also and so far no one has crossed it. But I’m worried about my Wyandotte’s bullying the Orpingtons when they are all out together. I’ve had them side by side but in our case it’s been familiarity breeds contempt.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks, @Wyorp Rock . She can reach the feeders, and she has her own feeders (2 of them - one in the coop and one in the run; you can't see them in the video). There are a few Bryony-only areas both in the coop and the run that the big girls can't access.

Looking back, I should have canceled my chick order and just picked up a couple more chicks for my broody. I want her to hurry up and grow so she can start standing up for herself.

I let Zinnia out of jail today because I felt bad for her.

LOL Well, if Zinnia is top, then likely she will stay on top not matter what you do. Some people end up re-homing I suppose.
I have my limits too, if it's hens fighting that's one thing. They scuffle at times and can be real stinkers with youngsters, but youngsters can get hurt (adults too at times). I try not to intervene unless someone is getting beaten up pretty bad. Combs and wattles can bleed like crazy and make things look worse than they are.

For instance, this was from someone (Izzy - she's in the photo) getting jumped because she was bullying at the nesting boxes one too many times. She had been egging it on for several days with another hen, the other hen had enough. Izzy was fine, that was just dried blood around the face/eyes where it had dripped from her comb. NOW...these are full grown adult hens having it out - not a hen vs. chick like yours.

 

[Willowspirit]

You can't know until you know!

The greatest wisdom in chicken raising!

 

[Aunt Angus]

Interesting development: my Cochin, Iris, seems to be trying to befriend Bryony. Is that even a thing chickens do? I watched them for a few hours this afternoon while working in the yard, and Iris would follow Bryony around and just peck and scratch next to her. Bryony would spook and run away, and Iris would follow deliberately but not threateningly. Iris is kinda slow and dopey, and until Bryony come along, she was the "bottom" pullet. I had always thought the bottom bird is often the most aggressive to new birds to make sure they move themselves up in the pecking order. But it was almost like she was telling Bryony, "It's ok. They pick on me, too."

So Zinnia is the meanest to Bryony and the top pullet? Iris is the most tolerant and the next-to-bottom pullet?

I hope Iris and Bryony become buddies...

 

[aart]

But it was almost like she was telling Bryony, "It's ok. They pick on me, too."

Could be!
While usually the low bird is meanest to newbies, it's not a rule written in stone.
Not that chickens read the rules anyway.
You may just have a biotch of an alpha.