Zinnia is in Chicken Jail

[Wyorp Rock]

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...

Iris may be at the bottom and wants a friend. Seems the pecking order ever so slightly shifts around.
Could be Zinnia is just more bossy. Mostly all my top hen (PBR) has to do is give the 'ol stink eye, it's a fantastic stink eye I tell you, but if for some odd reason that doesn't work, then she's not afraid to mix it up.

Once Bryony gets older/bigger hopefully things will settle down. A lot has to do with the personality of the hens.

 

[MochaDuck]

She is top hen. The lowest in the pecking order is a Cochin who is the only one who actually tolerates the young one. And I misspoke. They are all pullets. Zinnia and the other big girls are 11 months. Youngest is almost 3 months, but they are pretty close in size.

I don't take your questions as needling at all. My tolerance level is low, I think, because I've not had these issues before. I don't really know how much is too much. 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. Believe me, I searched and searched and read and read trying to figure out what is normal pecking order stuff and what constitutes bullying. I came up empty handed and decided then that my threshold would be drawing blood. She drew blood. I threw her in jail.

Here's the video from a few weeks back. Little Bryony is much bigger now.

I'm not sure how to answer your question, but I have a question. Why are there CDs hanging in your run?

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm not sure how to answer your question, but I have a question. Why are there CDs hanging in your run?

Lol! I put them there a long time ago when the run wasn't fully covered in the rather misguided hope that they would deter wild birds. Needless to say, it didn't help much. What did work was waiting for my girls to get older and deal with invaders on their own. My Brahma won't suffer song birds or squirrels in her yard. I just never took them down. Kinda forgot they were there. I'll do that today!

 

[MochaDuck]

Lol! I put them there a long time ago when the run wasn't fully covered in the rather misguided hope that they would deter wild birds. Needless to say, it didn't help much. What did work was wai thy ing for my girls to get older and deal with invaders on their own. My Brahma won't suffer song birds or squirrels in her yard. I just never took them down. Kinda forgot they were there. I'll do that today!

I just thought they were for your chickens to chase the reflections