[poultry paul]

Not long got two chickens, one is obviously in charge but wont except it and keeps pecking at the other (sligthly smaller) submissive one. I dont want to upset the balance but the larger one now has the monopoly on the food too. Will they ever get along together?
 :?

[babe]

how long is not long?

[Aunt Sally]

Make sure there's more than one feeding/drinking station !

[poultry paul]

This is day four and I did buckle and sort out a second food station for the under dog. It just seems a bit aggro or am I just being soft?

[babe]

day four...... stop worrying, they are just sorting out the pecking order. can take a couple of weeks or so for them to settle down.

unless it gets violent or blooming, i wouldnt worry yet

[poultry paul]

uummm theres a small bit of blood near the smallers ear............... :cry:

[Jellyhead]

Put Tea Tree cream on it and wait It will act as antiseptic and also put the other one off pecking Good luck

[poultry paul]

Thanks i have a feeling i may need your help again soon. never kept chickens before and i am on a steep learning curve.

Thanks to all respondants.

[dawnsmith]

Hi Paul
I'm new to chickens too.
I had my three for a couple of weeks, then all of a sudden one started picking on another. It was horrible. She was chased and pecked all the time. She stopped laying. At night time she was ousted from the egg box where they all slept and had to sleep on the roosing bars by herself.
We tried to give them as many distractions as we could. Put new sand in their sand bath, scattered chopped salad around the run, let them be in the garden with us as much as we could. If we were near the bully when she went for the other one, we would put a hand on her to make her squat - reminding her she didn't rule the world!
She eventually got the message - or the novelty wore off! Either way, they found a way of living together again, and peace reigns again  
I'm sure your girls will sort themselves out soon enough.
It is horrible to watch though isn't it?
Good Luck.

[Porffor]

Am new to chickens too - in fact not even owned them for a day! lol

But am a horse owner, and 'pecking order' is a huge thing with them too unfortunately, I'm sure they'll settle and the seperate feeding / water station should help - even if only temporary.

Fingers x'd