The Chicken Club (The Flock)

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Comment by Kate Clark on October 29, 2009 at 6:38pm

We are having an event on November 15, called Walk the Walk. Part of it will be for people in neighborhoods to meet up, and for people who want to start groups and projects to meet up. Let's plan on gathering in a corner and I'll have a sign up sheet for the Chicken Lovers...first thing- a potluck! I should get to the re-showing of the Mad City Chickens movie and connect with those folks too. I guess I've been lucky with my girls- 2 rhodies, 3 buff orpingtons and one all black lady (Latifah). They get along good and are great layers.

Comment by Danah Peace on October 29, 2009 at 5:57pm

Hello everyone! I've been raising chickens for over 10-years, and too, am having a chicken problem with a bully hen. I'm down to 2-hens. One has begun to pick all the feathers out of the other one. She is basically Kojack, mostly bald, unfortunately, right before it gets cold out. I need to replace her with another adult hen before winter. I'd like to offer her up for food, or, trade. I've been told that once they become "cannablistic" that you need to cull them, because the behavior won't stop. I feel bad for them both. Any ideas? I've purchased the salve that is supposed to stop it, but have not had time to apply it to my bald girl (Big Black). "Mertle" is the bad girl. Any takers? Trade? Also, I'd love to join everyone for a potluck. Thanks, Danah

Comment by Ro Donelson on October 29, 2009 at 10:35am

I thought that might be the case. My experience with them has been the same - good layers, but not good citizens.

Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 29, 2009 at 10:16am

Hi Deanna, if you are talking about Red Stars - which are a red sex-link - I have some of them, and quite honestly, I don't like them very much. They can be quite mean to one another let alone a much smaller younger hen. I also know someone else who has the same breed, and they too are not fond of the breed...for similar and other reasons. I personally think when they did the cross breeding they over did it, they focused mainly on egg production, which is nice, but I think it makes for crabby hens! I think at some point in time I will be getting rid of at least some of my Red Stars, even though they are good layers.

Comment by Deanna Lloyd on October 28, 2009 at 11:54pm

Thanks Alys and Ro for the ideas. I think I'll follow your suggestions and wait until the little ones grow up a bit more before I try to integrate. I still let them all hang out a bit during the day as long as I am out there. The aggressive lady is a red sex-link....are they more prone to bullying? Thanks again!

Comment by Ro Donelson on October 28, 2009 at 12:37pm

I agree with Alys' take on this - too young to integrate, and a nasty bully. You're not going to change her, but letting the little ones grow a little more before they are in direct contact with her is probably the best solution - perhaps a fenced area near the bully, but not with her, and/or if you want them to range an escape route they can utilize, where she can't follow if they are appreciably smaller... What breed is your bully, some are more prone than others?

Comment by Alys Kennedy on October 27, 2009 at 10:55am

Hi Deanna
I would wonder if the younger chicks are not too young to really hold their own with the older more aggressive girl; however, since they roam together during the day it is not like they don't know one another - so the little ones may just not be old enough yet. And/or you may just have a very bossy, aggressive older chicken who is abusive - it does happen, and sometimes the only solution is to get rid of the aggressive one. There are hens that will take on the role of a rooster and be very aggressive with it, so she may be one of those. It would be interesting to see what Ro has to say about the issue..........

Comment by Deanna Lloyd on October 26, 2009 at 11:30pm

Any suggestions on flock integration? I have two older hens (born in the spring) and three young ones who are still very small (two months or so old). Right now they are kept in separate areas for most of the day and for the night, but I do let them all roam around together sometimes. One of the older hens is wonderful and doesn't mess with the little ones at all, just goes about her business scratching, but the other is a little pain! Sometimes she will just charge at them for what appears to be no good reason (then again I'm not quite sure what a good reason for a chicken to charge would be). It's not just a quick little "I'm the boss" peck, sometimes it is really prolonged abuse. Ideas? Do they all just need some more time together? Do the young ones need to get bigger before I integrate? Thanks for your thoughts!!!

Comment by Ro Donelson on October 20, 2009 at 9:48pm

A Clutch Klatch at Molly's on a Monday night sounds good. and I like the idea of an informal potluck get together for starters and then if we want a class as such we can add that later. If we have a class, I'm thinking along the lines of a couple hour seminar on a Sat or so...to give folks the basics to get started in time for spring chicks
Kate, your hen's little dance could be as Alys suggested and in the absence of a rooster she could be doing his job as well: letting the others know "there's something good here, check it out..."
Great news on Mad City - I might have to go again!!!!

Comment by Kate Clark on October 20, 2009 at 8:51pm

I like this idea...and hope we could start after the first of the year when things are slowing down. Love your name, Molly!

ALSO...due to overwhelming demand, the Pickford is bringing Mad City Chickens back for another showing- November 7- pass the word!

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