While picking up my daughter from school I started talking to another parent who is also a farmer and discovered he also farmed poultry, so having a general conversation about my chickens (while he smirked at me paying for my chickens at breeder prices when I could buy his for a few quid on the market
).
I mentioned that we had an ex-bat die when she prolapsed and the others attacked her. He said I would have to cull all of them, because once they turn cannibal they become vicious. But the 3 remaining seem to be ok - they have obviously pecked at the 3 newbies and are a bit aggressive to them, but I expected that when introducing new hens
He also said that the ex-bat would be the worst. Now I have read this, but actually it's the Copper Stars that are bullying the newbies the most
He also said once they have eaten an egg, if I find a shell less or pecked egg, they won't stop and I will have to remove them as soon as they are laid. Now every so often we do have a shell less or pecked egg - maybe once every few months- but I often dont get to the eggs until after 6pm or the next morning and they are fine
So am I lucky with my hens or is he trying to freak out the 'townie with the chicken pets'?