Get-along, Little Chickies, Get-along

Introducing Raquel (the Barred Rock) into Bella's & Stella's (the Ameraucana's) cardboard home did not go well at first.  Raquel must have been exhausted from having lived her first week with about 50 other chicks running to and fro and peeping incessantly because all she wanted to do was sleep.  It worried me at first; she did not look like she was going to make it.  Bella & Stella had already become fast friends so when Raquel was added to the family, they had to check her out and my guess is....re-establish the pecking order.  Every time she tried to sleep, they jumped on her or pecked at her...mostly Stella jumped on her and pecked at her!  I kept scolding Stella and shooing her away.  Finally Raquel got her beauty rest or maybe I should say "Super Chicken" sleep and things in the ole coop haven't been the same since.  Larger than the other two chicks and now able to defend herself, Raquel is the Queen of the Roost!  All is peaceful for the time being and when there is a perceived threat of danger, Bella and Stella hide behind Raquel who very happily swells her feathers with pride to offer them protection.