I have two 18-month old cochins who have always gotten along since birth. Vivienne is larger and clearly the alpha hen...until today. Her smaller sibling, BB, jumped on her and bit her comb, which of course bled, inviting more attacks. Vivi is now terrified, and either hides behind my feet constantly glancing up at me or squawks and runs away when she sees BB. I took some advice from another post and watched for awhile amidst their yard, and when BB attacked, I held her to the ground for about ten seconds. Took a few times, but I think she got the point. An hour later, BB attacks again, so I kept them separated for the rest of the day and applied some "rooster booster" (aloe and coal tar) to her comb.
Bedtime, one coop...well, let's just say this didn't go well. I placed Vivi on the perch in the dark, and let BB climb in. She immediately attacked the back of Vivi's neck. Vivi is now locked in the coop alone, BB isn't keen on the ladder rung, but it will have to do, bad girl!
Here's the strangest thing...my former dominant hen is totally bowing down (literally) and taking the abuse. She doesn't try to get away, she doesn't fight back, just flattens to the ground and takes it.
Nothing has changed in their lives. The only thing I noticed is that today was the second day in a row Vivi didn't lay an egg (rare, she usually takes one day off a week, but I totally understand the stress beginning at 9am this morning). BB started attacking right after she laid her egg (a perfect one, no issues there.) Any ideas what to do?
Bedtime, one coop...well, let's just say this didn't go well. I placed Vivi on the perch in the dark, and let BB climb in. She immediately attacked the back of Vivi's neck. Vivi is now locked in the coop alone, BB isn't keen on the ladder rung, but it will have to do, bad girl!
Here's the strangest thing...my former dominant hen is totally bowing down (literally) and taking the abuse. She doesn't try to get away, she doesn't fight back, just flattens to the ground and takes it.
Nothing has changed in their lives. The only thing I noticed is that today was the second day in a row Vivi didn't lay an egg (rare, she usually takes one day off a week, but I totally understand the stress beginning at 9am this morning). BB started attacking right after she laid her egg (a perfect one, no issues there.) Any ideas what to do?