Re: Bullying in the Coop


"Jill" <news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:469e6532$0$1633$ed2619ec@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


There pen is around 3-1/2 metres squared but I let them out most days
to free range for an hour or so in our large back garden/yard.

ooooh - your problem is space.

Like that provided for battery chickens ...

Its one of the oddities of chicken behaviour that if you confine two birds
closely together that they will put up with each other for 18 months, in
general without too much problem.
However, give a number of birds a bit more space but not enough to get
away from each other and they can become really horrible.
11.5 feet by 11.5 feet is tiny as a full time, non-changing, space for 8
mixed breed chickens, I am afraid.
And therein lies your problem.
Chickens are the most terrible bullies.

As has been found in intensive rearing conditions.

Can I ask why you only let them out for such a short time?
If you have a large back garden I would really recommend you let them out
all day.
You have a mixed flock of breeds and therefore characters.
You have shown them that there is a fun world out there, which is full of
goodies to see, do and eat yet they are deprived of it, except for such a
tiny part of the day.
All and every bit of frustration can only be directed at each other. They
need to get away from each other
If its day time predators then invest in some electric netting to make a
protective pen.
If its a worry about the damage to the garden then you have too many birds
for the space they are being offered and you may need to consider finding
homes for a few.
8 hens is a lot of birds for most domestic situations.

There are thousands in intensive rearing sheds ...

Mary


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Relevant Pages

  • Re: Bullying in the Coop
    ... to free range for an hour or so in our large back garden/yard. ... Its one of the oddities of chicken behaviour that if you confine two birds ... Chickens are the most terrible bullies. ... Bare soil and chickens in the UK climate is a major no-no as it will ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)
  • Re: Bullying in the Coop
    ... to free range for an hour or so in our large back garden/yard. ... give a number of birds a bit more space but not enough to get away ... Chickens are the most terrible bullies. ... Bare soil and chickens in the UK climate is a major no-no as it will become ...
    (sci.agriculture.poultry)