Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximo  I am very sorry about Delilah. She was beautiful.
This has put a damper on my wish for chickens. I had no idea that they would do this to each other. |
Me either.
I got them a treat ball and put strawberries in it and they had so much fun rolling it around to peck at the strawberries..I also got them a smaller treat type thing and it has really tiny treats in it, but they have to move it to get the treats to come out, so they've been investigating it. My son and I think eventually we could out crickets or mealworms in it once they get used to how it works to get the treats out.
And my son gave them crickets and they enjoyed them.
We hung a rope with a bell and a few other perches and I got a corn holder to hang in there and a suet feeder and stuffed it with broccoli. We let them out to graze in the yard and they scratched and pecked and didn't seem too interested in trying to get out, so this will become our new afternoon routine. Now if I can just get Allie to stop barking anytime she sees them. Hearing them is fine, but seeing them, she throws a fit!
So, I'm hoping this solves the problem. I don't think they actually enjoy chicken so to speak, I read that they're attracted to the color red, so once they pecked at her and made her bleed, they just continued pecking at that area because the blood was red. And there is definitely a head hen in the coop. The little blonde one is boss! But she hasn't bothered the rusty colored one, so either Delilah is/was sick, they were licking on her because she's smaller and weaker or they just were bored and she was their target. I hope I don't have bully chickens!!