this is my first time in having chickens. I got two, approx 20 wk old Marans and a Isa Brown, approx 16 weeks. Ethel, the Maran is picking on Rotiseri, the Isa Brown. Is there anything that I can do to stop this behavior? I am a city person so have limited space. I have a coop with a run that I move daily around the yard. Once they are in their coop for the night all is quite but once out and about she picks on Rotiseri.
Oh, this can be so tough. Make sure they are getting enough protein and that they have enough room to roam. They say if you separate the bully for about a week that when you reintroduce her back, she'll be lower in the pecking order. But I'm not sure that will work if you just have the three. I've also picked up a spray bottle that is filled with water and when I catch Pumpkin pecking at Ginger, I'll spray her. She hates it. It took a while and I do occasionally catch Pumpkin pecking, but in general, it's much less.
I felt that if I had more room that would help but I don't. I will get a spray bottle first thing in the a.m. and sit and watch and spray Ethel when she does this. Thanks so much, hate to see her bully the little one.
I can sympathize with you on this one, as I battled a white leghorn hen that was SO mean to my other hens. Tried every suggestion mentioned, read, and tried more....it came down to giving her to a freind's farm. She was sweet as pie to me, the nicest of hens I had. It was so hard, but my other hens, are happy, can eat freely, and drink freely, and my stress level has gone down. I hated to see her go, but it was for the best. I wish Ms. Pissy well...... Good luck...
