I am sorry to have to ask, but I still need ideas after searching through the archives.
This is concerning isolating a bully hen.
Background: I have 5 hens. She is one of 4 Golden Comets and a Barred Rock. They have plenty of room, nutrition, water, light, protection, etc. She is pecking at the other 3 Golden Comets every time their now-bare backs are within her reach, with nonchalance as if they are something normal to eat! One hen is now bleeding so I must do something. Eating the bully is out of the question. I took Carla Emery's advice and tried iodine on the backs of the others but caught her at it again this morning. Our local TSC doesn't carry any anti-peck solutions.
So, my main question is about isolation. We live in a rural area where predators abound and the only cage I have available is a cat carrier (rather small but do-able, I think). Can that still be made to work? What about free-ranging? (I usually let them free-range as soon as they have all laid their daily egg, usually by noon every day.) What about roosting and keeping her clean? Can twine be tied to her leg to allow her to get limited free-range benefits after she lays her daily egg? Have you had success with isolating a bully hen then reintroducing her?
What clever ways have you isolated a bully?
Thanks in advance. I have so few girls that it's hard to let one go without trying every possibility, despite having limited resources for separating them in this situation.
This is concerning isolating a bully hen.
Background: I have 5 hens. She is one of 4 Golden Comets and a Barred Rock. They have plenty of room, nutrition, water, light, protection, etc. She is pecking at the other 3 Golden Comets every time their now-bare backs are within her reach, with nonchalance as if they are something normal to eat! One hen is now bleeding so I must do something. Eating the bully is out of the question. I took Carla Emery's advice and tried iodine on the backs of the others but caught her at it again this morning. Our local TSC doesn't carry any anti-peck solutions.
So, my main question is about isolation. We live in a rural area where predators abound and the only cage I have available is a cat carrier (rather small but do-able, I think). Can that still be made to work? What about free-ranging? (I usually let them free-range as soon as they have all laid their daily egg, usually by noon every day.) What about roosting and keeping her clean? Can twine be tied to her leg to allow her to get limited free-range benefits after she lays her daily egg? Have you had success with isolating a bully hen then reintroducing her?
What clever ways have you isolated a bully?
Thanks in advance. I have so few girls that it's hard to let one go without trying every possibility, despite having limited resources for separating them in this situation.
