The Poultry Keeper

jooles · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:42 pm Post subject: Almost but not quite bullying

Having spent lots of time sitting with the chickens and watching their antics it seems that Vanessa (Bovans Nera) is picking on Rosie (Maran Cuivee). She doesn't seem to go for either of the other two and Rosie seems particularly friendly with Fifi (Speckeldy) who seems to shoo Vanessa away sometimes. Should I just let them get on with it? I'm only concerned because Rosie seems to be always on the lookout for Vanessa and doesn't seem to settle to eating at the feeder as much as the others. Should I put a separate feeder at the other end of the run or something?

None of them have any problems with each other except for Vanessa taking a dislike to Rosie. Sad

Edited to say that there is no real pecking going on - just chasing and squawking!

George · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 5661 Location: London

It probably wouldn't be a bad idea

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

Best to have two of everything...keeps the fights to a minimum. Wink

jooles · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:25 pm Post subject:

Okay, I'll put two lots out tomorrow. A dish will have to do for now because I've only got one proper feeder thingy. No doubt they'll have fun kicking it around and turning it upside down. Rolling Eyes

Rosie and Vanessa were both drinking from opposite sides of the same drinker just before I put them to bed tonight so they're obviously not sworn enemies, well, not yet anyway Confused

Knobby · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:29 pm Post subject:

Theyll soon learn to avoid each other !
Its one of the chooks most horrible features ! "I must pick on my Sisters Evil or Very Mad

"

NannyP · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:32 pm Post subject:

All of the above and I have noticed that the chooks will often drink together, even those that normally don't get on. Maybe they don't need to fight over water, since it's not food Confused

Pete&Jackie · Joined: 03 Sep 2005 Posts: 209 Location: Hertfordshire

Funny thing this getting on or not isn't it. My original 5 had few squables but nothing major and they all get on fine now. Since we got the 4 new youngsters on Sunday there have been a few "nasty" incidents, particularly in the run area when food is there or mixed corn treats are thrown down before bed. 2 of the Old guard, the Maran and the Gold Laced Wyandotte are being quite horrible to the newbies during these periods, Our Buff laced Wyandotte has a slight go at them once or twice, but nothing much and the Blue Laced and Gloria the lovely natured Orp haven't done anything nasty at all and seem fine with them.

Hopefully they will all settle down to one big happy family over the next week or two!!! Confused

Lisa · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject:

jooles · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:24 pm Post subject:

That's a good idea, I'm sure I can find a couple of bricks knocking around somewhere. Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I found that as I added extra girls to the old ones, they would squabble a bit but nothing much, just sort of 'know your place, newbie!' and I've seen it happening as the chicks are growing ~ the 2 orps are the size of pekins but still babies and now the rir bantam gives them the odd peck ~ nothing serious just so that they know even if they get big she is older! I can't say that they have all joined as one flock ~ they seem to be in sort of factions as to who came with who, especially the 3 I bought as 6 week olds ~ they always wander round together.
I used bricks to raise my water thingy off the floor ~ it has little fold up legs that you can use, but the girls seemed to like kicking the legs from under it so all the water spilt!
I do have 2 of food and water things, but don't use them now that they have all been together so long ~ no major squabbles either, thankfully.

debcat · Posted: Tue Nov 01, 2005 11:58 pm Post subject:

MIne still wander round in the groups they were originally in
Only the ducks seem to go round as one lot