Re: What to do about chicken "bullying"?

CB wrote:
> Greetings poultry lovers,
>
> We have 4 Americauna pullets in our backyard poultry "farm". 3 were
> store bought as chicks and one we hatched ourselves. The hatched one
> is about 3 months old and the others about 2 months old (+/- couple of
> weeks).

If they were bought as chicks why are you not sure of the age by weeks?
The difference between 6 week old birds and 10 week old birds is very
significant.

The 3 younger sisters have never quite accepted their older
> step-sister and she is mostly terrified of them. She is a bit skittish
> to begin with. They don't draw blood or anything, but they do keep her
> in check enough that I fear she's not getting enough feed. She's often
> hiding out in a corner of their yard or in the coop. Does anyone have
> any suggestions for correcting this behavior?

Yes -- give her some mates of her own age, in a separate coop -- and when
the youngest are 18 weeks start the re-introduction again
Chickens are very unpleasant to each other and will commonly pick on a
singleton
It is easier to meld 2 groups -- but they must have lots of space and places
to go.

We do attempt to feed
> them separately to some extent, but otherwise the situation seems
> hopeless to me. I would have expected the older one to adjust in the
> month they've been cooped together, but it ain't happening.

So you have had possibly two week old chicks cooped outside?
Your weather must be very warm?

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
>
> TIA,
>
> Casey

.

Relevant Pages

  • What to do about chicken "bullying"?
    ... store bought as chicks and one we hatched ourselves. ... The 3 younger sisters have never quite accepted their older ... step-sister and she is mostly terrified of them. ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: What to do about chicken "bullying"?
    ... > Greetings poultry lovers, ... > store bought as chicks and one we hatched ourselves. ... The 3 younger sisters have never quite accepted their older ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)