Drama in the Flock!

[flintridgeflock]

I'm new to BYC and chicken keeping and came here for some advice. I currently have 8 hens around 9 months old. We have 2 RIRs, 2 Australorps, 2 Midnight Marans and 2 Barred Rocks. All raised together from chicks. All 8 hens have recently started laying in the middle of December and all have gotten along up until recently. I noticed that one of the Midnight Marans starting feather plucking from the others. I don't believe she was head of the pecking order, but maybe fell more in the middle of the pecking order. I put her in chicken jail in a dog crate out in the run for several days where the rest of the hens could still see her. She still wasn't reformed, so she went back into chicken jail again for a few more days. Yesterday when I let her out for supervised run time, everything was fine until one of my RIRs and her went at it. The RIR drew blood on her comb and then tried to attack the other Midnight Maran who is at the bottom of the pecking order and was minding her own business. I addressed the bloody comb, but ended up putting the RIR and the original feather pecking Midnight Maran both in their own dog crates to separate them. The rest of the flock seems content and happy when these two aren't causing drama.

Here's some additional information that may help with giving advice:

1. They have an 8x8 coop with plenty of roosting bars and 5 nesting boxes
2. They are in an enclosed run that is very large (not sure of the dimensions at the top of my head)
3. There are multiple feeders and waterers along with chicken enrichment toys
4. They are on a layer feed and I have cut out all treats with the exception of adding some additional protein to see if that's the issue (diet imbalance).
5. I initially thought they were just bored since we've have freezing temps and that's when the feather pecking started

I suspect some of these recent changes have stressed them out a bit and may have made the situation worse.

My question is should I go ahead and let the 2 chickens who fought yesterday and let them go at it (I'm assuming they are trying to re-establish a pecking order since the Maran was in chicken jail for awhile)? If I let them go at it (with the exception of drawing serious blood), how long do I let them fight and see if one submits? Any advice would be much appreciated! I'm at my wits end and exhausted with worry.

 

[Sammster]

It sounds like you are doing the right things. I'm sure our more experienced keepers will chime in. Here's one piece of advice they gave me when I was having similar issues: give the chickens "hiding" places. Spots where the bullied chickens can rest, but easily escape. Where they are out of direct eye contact from the bullies. I have spots like that in this photo - but then I added a little curtain to the rod where you see my gray hen. It's there permanently, now, and they all take turns having quiet time behind it. I leave it pulled open a little, on each side, for quick escape, if needed.

 

[flintridgeflock]

@Sammster I appreciate the response! Hiding places are one thing that I haven't really tried yet. This will be next on the list to do this week. I also love the little kiddie playhouse in your run. That's a fun addition.

 

[Mrs. K]

Clutter really does help. Things that birds can get up on, actually give them more room, as they are using vertical space.

A couple of points that I see:

• being raised together has almost no influence on flock behavior at maturity, the flock really is not BFF.
• some birds do not work in some flocks, and in other flocks will just be fine - consider selling your trouble. You yourself said, that when you pulled them, the rest got on quite well. Sometimes that is the head count that fits best in your set up, regardless of the rules.
• Often times, as birds become full size and start laying, these issues come up. You need to change something.
• Pin less peepers can really help in small flocks
• Always solve for peace in the flock. The separating them was a good idea, but really didn't work. Need to try something else.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/a-cluttered-run.1323792/

https://www.amazon.com/DSSPORT-Pheasant-Blinders-Spectacles-Anti-Pecking/dp/B08DTZBVDX?th=1

Perhaps these can help

 

[Sammster]

@Sammster I appreciate the response! Hiding places are one thing that I haven't really tried yet. This will be next on the list to do this week. I also love the little kiddie playhouse in your run. That's a fun addition.

Ah. I've actually repurposed that little playhouse. DH built me a climbing structure in its place, inside the pen, and I moved the playhouse out in the yard, as a chunnel-through destination. They can access the chunnel o two, opposite sides of the pen - so even if there's a dispute in the chunnel, there is an escape route.

 

[flintridgeflock]

@Mrs. K Thank you for responding. I'm definitely going to add some more clutter and see if we can correct the issue with this method. Pinless Peepers are a last resort, but will do if necessary. Being a new chicken keeper, I thought I had done so much research prior to doing this, but I'm definitely learning in this process. The pecking order is a real thing and can be brutal to watch. If after adding clutter or doing Pinless Peepers don't do the trick, looks like we may need to re-home which makes me sad

 

[LaFleche]

You can try Pinless Peepers which will stop the aggressive pecking.

And welcome to the BYC community!

 

[flintridgeflock]

@LaFleche thank you for the warm welcome!

 

[Mrs. K]

The problem is the darn chickens don't read the same research!

I would use the pin less peepers sooner than later. Read this thread. A lot of people think they are a punishment, but really they let you keep the birds you want, and keep peace in the flock.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-pinless-peeper-that-is-the-question.1651166/