We have 3 cochin hens, bought together as 1st year layers about 4mths a go. Wasn't long (being cochins, no surprise I guess) before 1 went broody. We eventually got some eggs in and she's done a marvelous job hatching them. Before all this happened she was the dominant hen.
5 weeks later, she's outdoors everyday with the chics in a run separated from the other 2 (has been for a few weeks), the others hadn't paid much attention other than occasionally eye-ing the chic crumbs on the other side of the wire... Today, we decided to give the new family more space and put up a chicken fence (the type you can electrify, which we've not done).
Right away, one of the other girls (who's now also broody, and has become - we think - the dominant one in the absence of the 1 who went off to become a mum, Doris), has started attacking 'Doris' through the mesh netting. Really going mad, we got her away and within a minute the other was up to the fence and also attacking Doris. We separated them for the rest of the day, putting the other 2 girls in a different yard with our ducks/geese. Came back from errands and found them back in yard 1, and again attacking Doris through the mesh - the mesh isn't much protection and I think they'll have it down - and Doris killed - in no time. Doris meanwhile is fighting back - but having been broody and then moulting (and eating too much chick crumb probably) she's looking worse for wear and I don't think can win this fight.
Can anyone offer us some advice please? We know a pecking order is the name of the game, but didn't expect this - what with ensuring the other 2 could see Doris and her brood all the time when they're out. We're wondering if we should electrify the poultry netting, but are worried if even a low voltage would be too strong for the 5 week old chicks (1 of which is quite small, we think it (barnevelder) must be a bantam)..? Anyone know about electric poultry netting and young chics?
Any and all advice appreciated. We thought cochins would be a nice docile breed to start chicken keeping with... but so far it's 2 of 3 of them broody and a massive attack game going on (and we haven't even trialed integrating the new baby chics)!
Advice on what to do with Doris' blooming head injuries also would be great
Thank you