we got several different chickens on easter for egg layers in the backyard, my brother wanted some of the ones that laid blue eggs so we got two ameraucana chickens, one white leghorn, two plymouth barred rocks, and one polish chicken. The ameraucana chickens are nearly constantly picked on by the leghorn and barred rocks while the polish seems to be left alone and seems to leave them alone. So, is there a way to make the chickens stop bothering the ameraucanas or will they stop when they get larger, they’re about a month ancient now? We thought they’d stop when we got them into a coop and out of the crowded indoor cage, but they didn’t, if it makes a difference.
The other chickens don’t just occasionally peck at the ameraucana chickens, they completely peck their backs raw, and not just around food but whenever they get the chance
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The other answerer is quite right in that if this is general pecking order fighting it should sort itself out relatively quickly- how long since they’ve been went into the coop space?
At only a month ancient (4 weeks), I am doubting that these chicks are properly fully feathered yet- so unless you are in a really warm climate, they probably should still be under the brooder lamp.
Chicks will naturally peck at each other as a way of exploration but, since you say they are pecking their backs raw, it is probably an issue of feather picking rather than of dominance. This can be a very terrible habit to break and it generally starts over having mixed colors (particularly light colored birds with darks) or an overly bright brooder lamp. Since light feathers show the bloodline up the centre of the quill simpler- the chicks often will peck at these lines out of curiosity but soon it becomes a habit. It especially becomes a habit if the chicks are not fed appropriately since feather matter will provide extra protein and chicks need rather a lot of protein for growth. If they’ve come from an overcrowded rather unstimulating space, feather picking can also stem from boredom.
It helps to keep the chicks in a slightly darker area, and also paint the area where the chick have been pecking with a dark colored anti-septic paint designed for animals (you can generally get it in blue or purple). You just need to really prevent the bloodlines in the feathers from showing until the birds are FULLY feathered (not just "lightly covered"). If this doesn’t seem to be working, remove the Ameraucana chicks from the rest of the birds so they don’t become any more injured- and hopefully the others will break the habit before it becomes a life-long one.
Ameraucana and Rocks are both quite docile birds generally, once the pecking order is sorted out as adult birds then you should have no further problems. The Leghorn I can’t say the same of- they are a more flighty bird and can be prone to aggression, particularly the roosters- quite a few of my childhood memories consist of having to run away from some of the ones we used to have (even my Dad used to have to run because they just wouldn’t back down and weren’t worried of anything!) But, they’re one of the best laying birds so this often makes up for this.
As the chicks age, I would be more concerned about the Polish- she’ll quickly become the bottom bird in the coop and if any of the other birds turn out to have an aggressive nature I’ll be feeling very sorry for her. Polish are naturally nervous, flighty birds and quite a lot of that comes from the heavy cresting- their vision is obscured. They aren’t excellent at defending themselves because they usually can’t see what’s coming, and so they don’t cope very well in a mixed coop- especially when you have rather large birds like Rocks in there as well. I highly recommend that people don’t keep mixed flocks, especially containing mixed sizes and if they insist then you should always have at least two birds of the same breed/variety.
Excellent luck!
From a book i have read on chickens "THE COMPLETE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHICKENS" ( < Not shouted.) it says that after a week or so all chickens should get along, but not all will be like (as much as others), as in, it will allow it to be around it but will sometimes peck it. Over food or somthing.