[MR TEA POT]

Just bought four hens,two brown ones and a light sussex and a black one,can't remember what its called.
The problem i am having is the two brown one's will not let the other two out the shed to feed,every time they come out the brown ones chase them back in and peck them.The two brown ones are a bit older then the other two.

What should i do?
should i get rid of the brown ones,or see if they settle down they have only been in the shed and run a day and half.

[trappa]

Im an absolute begginer at hens so im only guessing but would introducing a cockbird help? he would become "top dog" i guess and boss them all around equally. ( i think) lol

[confused]

MR TEA POT, on Aug 9 2009, 07:40 PM, said:

Just bought four hens,two brown ones and a light sussex and a black one,can't remember what its called.
The problem i am having is the two brown one's will not let the other two out the shed to feed,every time they come out the brown ones chase them back in and peck them.The two brown ones are a bit older then the other two.

What should i do?
should i get rid of the brown ones,or see if they settle down they have only been in the shed and run a day and half.

give them plenty greens to rake about in they will settle down

[THE BEATNICK]

give them time and they will sort themseves out.

[the_stig]

confused, on Aug 9 2009, 08:22 PM, said:

MR TEA POT, on Aug 9 2009, 07:40 PM, said:

Just bought four hens,two brown ones and a light sussex and a black one,can't remember what its called.
The problem i am having is the two brown one's will not let the other two out the shed to feed,every time they come out the brown ones chase them back in and peck them.The two brown ones are a bit older then the other two.

What should i do?
should i get rid of the brown ones,or see if they settle down they have only been in the shed and run a day and half.

give them plenty greens to rake about in they will settle down

its normal for them to do this - hang lettuce cabbage and colly in 2 0r 3 nets they`ll soon get the idea that food is plentyfull and thrs no need to bully for it , they may have been under feed or kept with a lot of other hens where they`ve had to fight for food .. a cock bird wont help even hens sort there own pecking order ...turn the soil over in the run or garden they love to root round keep em busy .. :thumbs:

[lost scouse]

if you have only just introduced them to each other i would it will probably be pecking order they should settle down

[skycat]

Its' funny how the phrase 'pecking order' has come into general use: but of course it started with the pecking order of a chicken flock: they can be nasty little sods to eachother and even with only 4 chickens there is always a clearly defined hierarchy. Newbies can get a rough time of it to begin with: just make sure they have plenty of room to get away from the nasty bullies and plenty of food scattered about so that there isn't just one feeding place for the top hens to guard.

Also consider alternative places to roost if the top dogs won't allow the underlings on to the perch and several laying boxes in different places. One of our hens lays in an old barrel half way up the fence under a Russian Vine: she daren't lay in the main nest box.

[MR TEA POT]

Thanks for advice folks. ;)

They all roost on the same perche at night with no probs,its just when there is food in the run outside,the brown ones keep pecking the other 2 and chasing them into the shed.I will see if they wsettle in as its only been a couple of days.Thanks again folks. :)

[MR TEA POT]

Just a update on my new chickens,they are all getting on fine now,we are getting 2 eggs a day,two of the hens are only young one's and have not started to lay yet.
Friday we got a double yolker :clapper: :clapper: .
So thanks to everyone who gave me advice :victory:

This post has been edited by MR TEA POT: 23 August 2009 - 03:00 PM

[the_stig]

MR TEA POT, on Aug 23 2009, 04:00 PM, said:

Just a update on my new chickens,they are all getting on fine now,we are getting 2 eggs a day,two of the hens are only young one's and have not started to lay yet.
Friday we got a double yolker :clapper: :clapper: .
So thanks to everyone who gave me advice :victory:

nice one ;)