My four hens have settled in pretty well and have quickly established a pecking order. The Light Sussex (Blanche)is definitely the boss and she seems to pick on the Cream Legbar (Queenie) in particular. I have two Lohman Browns (Hettie & Mabel) who are just cheeky and don't seem bothered about anything, but the Legbar does seem more intimidated. They seem to tolerate each other during the day, but when it's bedtime Blanche refuses to let Queenie her in the house. Tonight there was a stand off for about half an hour. This is a new relationship (only two days) so I guess they have to get used to each other, but my question is will they learn to get on with each other or is this likely to continue?
Bedtime squabbles - Help please
- Thread starter Anni D
- Start date
rick
Active member
Me again - online a bit too much for my own good I think!
I would guess (contrary to appearances) that Hettie and Mabel are comfortably at the top of the hierarchy with Blanche only one from the bottom and keen to keep it that way. i don’t know if this is the general experience but my CLB is also at the bottom. Dainty little thing she is and I often think of that Monty Python line 'Run away! Run away!' when I see her cautiously trying to get near the supper bowls. Then, bizarrely, she will sit with my top hen (Brownie who is as laid back and heavy as a feathery Buddha) and preen like she's one of the gang. My middle manager with a chip is Blaze, the bottom of the three brown hybrid girls.
Its early days and they will still be getting used to each other but having two food bowls so everyone gets to sneak in for a go is a good idea and you can put them all on the perch after it gets dark (nothing happens in chicken world in the dark) - the more they wake up together the more tolerant of each other they will get but the only time I had no squabbles is when the 3 hybrid sisters who hatched together were on their own.
I would guess (contrary to appearances) that Hettie and Mabel are comfortably at the top of the hierarchy with Blanche only one from the bottom and keen to keep it that way. i don’t know if this is the general experience but my CLB is also at the bottom. Dainty little thing she is and I often think of that Monty Python line 'Run away! Run away!' when I see her cautiously trying to get near the supper bowls. Then, bizarrely, she will sit with my top hen (Brownie who is as laid back and heavy as a feathery Buddha) and preen like she's one of the gang. My middle manager with a chip is Blaze, the bottom of the three brown hybrid girls.
Its early days and they will still be getting used to each other but having two food bowls so everyone gets to sneak in for a go is a good idea and you can put them all on the perch after it gets dark (nothing happens in chicken world in the dark) - the more they wake up together the more tolerant of each other they will get but the only time I had no squabbles is when the 3 hybrid sisters who hatched together were on their own.
I agree with Rick about the apparent pecking order not always being what it seems, especially with a new bunch. Does Blanche just block the doorway to the coop, or actually peck Queenie when she tries to get in? If no blood is being shed and Queenie is allowed in eventually, I'd leave them to it to sort it out themselves. Half an hour isn't too long for a standoff, unless you're a human watching it! Eventually Blanche will have made her point and get fed up and go to roost and then Queenie will go in. If you do feel the need to intervene because Queenie is being actually attacked, you could try catching her and putting her in the coop just before bedtime, when they're starting to go up anyway. Pop her in the nestbox, though she may not stay there, and then go down later when they're asleep and put her back on a perch so she sleeps with the others and doesn't get the idea that the nestbox is a bedroom!
BTW, my little CLB is top hen, age 5, and definitely no retiring violet. And I once had a teeny tiny Silkie, wee white ball of feathers, who was always well in charge, even when I introduced several hulking great Rhode Island Red POL pullets, who were scared stiff of her. So size doesn't always seem to matter, it's personality that counts.
BTW, my little CLB is top hen, age 5, and definitely no retiring violet. And I once had a teeny tiny Silkie, wee white ball of feathers, who was always well in charge, even when I introduced several hulking great Rhode Island Red POL pullets, who were scared stiff of her. So size doesn't always seem to matter, it's personality that counts.
Bugsy
New member
I have had the same saga and am convinced it's almost a game they play. A glance over to the run at dusk will sometimes see one, two or even three lining up on the ramp waiting to get to bed.
One will sit in the doorway and block the others. It's not always the same hen, but never the black one who is definitely well down the order.
I open my door to the coop and she ruffles her feathers in anticipation of being picked up and placed on a perch. The others then file in and I'm sure they give the 'blocker' the look that says "that's you sorted out".
One will sit in the doorway and block the others. It's not always the same hen, but never the black one who is definitely well down the order.
I open my door to the coop and she ruffles her feathers in anticipation of being picked up and placed on a perch. The others then file in and I'm sure they give the 'blocker' the look that says "that's you sorted out".
It's always Blanche that goes in first and Queenie immediately follows. Blanche flaps at her every time she tries to go through the door so Queenie ends up sitting on the ramp. Hettie and Mabel seem quite happy to stay up a bit later, but once they start queuing up and pushing their way in Blanche seems to give in. Poor old Queenie looks very p......d off - she just wants to go to bed.
They're evidently still sorting out their places in the ranking order. Nothing to worry about, just leave them to it. Are they all perching OK, with nobody in the nestboxes?
