Establishing pecking orders?

[saltyseadog]

Yesterday I bought four hens from a breeder, who had been introduced to each other before I got them.

My giant orpie is without a doubt the top girl - however she is being vile to two of the others, so much so that they won't come out of the house I've put food and water in the house (v.worried about them getting enough water in this weather), but should I isolate the giant orpie and allow them to sort themselves out for a while? I'm hoping that this is normal and that I don't have a chicken hooligan in my flock!

Would anti-peck spray help?

Thanks Minda - they have fortunately settled down now, but were quite horrid to one another for the first week. The hooligan does now seem to be quite mild mannered now, but I suspect she still rules the roost .

Hi Salty ... how are they getting on? Settled well? I can't believe you've had them a couple of weeks. I've just picked up a huge bucket of poo, it's endless - and that's not todays cleared - it was too dark to continue. Are yours getting tamer? Mine aren't great - maybe I'm not handling them enough, I'm picking them up some nights but not all and they still flap and give off like mad!

HI Millie. They're doing good thanks. There's one that I'm slightly worried about as she seems the 'runt' of the flock, and a bit separate from the rest of the girls. I have just wormed and dusted them to make sure that worms/ mites aren't causing issues.

Hmmm...poo...that IS a problem. My girls have massive feet which tread it all into the lawn making it nigh on impossible to poo pick. I therefore currently have a beautiful manured lawn at present . Not too sure what to do about it as a problem at the moment tbh - would love to have some suggestions if you have any .

I love having chooks though. I am currently contemplating buying a secondhand house and getting some ex-batts. I saw this picture of Buffy and was so sad that I can't help wanting to re-home 2 or 3. That would then be my lot I think

Buffy rescue ex-batt