Newbie advice again please

[adamhartree]

Hi, I have 3 chickens (maran,ranger,White leg horn). The other 2 hens keep picking at the wlh everytime she goes to eat the scattered corn. I though it may just be them getting the pecking order sorted but over the last couple of days she seems really timid,and sleeps quite a lot whilst the other two are out and about. She also dosent seem to be eating as much as the others. Is this behaviour ok and normal. All advice much apreshiated.(they are 23 weeks old if that helps)

[nellie-m]

Hi, I don't think this behaviour is okay. Firstly, try to make sure she can get enough food - if you can't separate her during feeding and she's too scared of the others, try to put the feed down in different corners and far enough apart so that there's always another spot left where she can eat. For example, for three hens, divide their food into five parts and put it down in five different spots so whenever the white one gets chased away she has still other places to go. (Likewise, make sure she can access the drinker without being bullied!)

Also, hens don't usually sleep during the day. They will dustbath, and seem relaxed especially if the sun shines while they do, and they will have short periods where they will just stand, look around and rest together, but "sleeps quite a lot" doesn't sound good to me.

[RichmondHens]

I agree with Nellie and her advice. Keep an eye on her, if she gets worse you may need to get her checked out by a vet or experienced chicken keeper. Depending on how attached you are to her it might be worth contacting the breeder and seeing if they can offer you a replacement. Chickens shouldn't really fall sick within a few weeks of you buying them unless you are treating them badly, which I am sure is not the case!