Advice needed...

[EHepner]

We are fairly new to raising chickens. We have a small flock of 6 hens. 3 RIR and 3 BO. We have begun to notice that four of the hens have bare bottoms and are starting to look somewhat thinner, and a couple have blood on them as well. They are not in molt, as they are first year hens that have only begun to lay two months ago. My husband has a suspicion that one particularly aggressive hen is pecking the other hens' bottoms. I have never heard of this before. I'm trying to determine if this is a symptom of some kind of disease, or if I in fact have a bully hen. In either case, I need advice as to how to handle it. They seem to still be laying just fine. I have not noticed any slacking off. Any help would be greatly appreciated. If the answer to this problem is obvious to everyone but me, please forgive my ignorance. I am new to all this, but until now it has been greatly enjoyable. Thank you!

 

[Angelpoo]

soem chickens will be a bully... but with also go at the neck too... it wont take long to figure out if you have a bully hen, just sit outside and watch them for a few minutes and you will see if they are getting picked on.

 

[EHepner]

How does one handle a bully bird?

 

[Angelpoo]

Depends on the bird... I stuck mine in a small cage together and made them get along... Or at least ignore each other haha. I was there watching the whole time though. Might also have to get rid of the bird... There's a time when it's just figuring out the pecking order and a time when it's bully. Some chickens just don't get along with each other... Just like some humans can't stand eachother.


Best if luck