Aggressive Hen

[God's Creation Acres]

I am fairly new to chickens. I got my 6 girls as chicks a year ago. As expected, one rose to the top of the pecking order. All but 2 stopped laying at some point during the winter. Since laying has resumed, my head hen has become more and more aggressive. She guards the nest...there are 3 but they all insist on using the same one. She tries to not let anyone else in it. Now she has taken on rooster like behavior by pouncing on others, particularly the lowest in the order, and mounting as if mating. In doing this she has pulled feathers out of the back of the other girls' head. I did as I had read in many places and removed her from the flock. I kept her isolated for 4 full days (Monday morning to Friday morning). I just put her back out this morning and it was as if she never left. The rest acted as if she had never left and she resumed her post as boss, exhibiting the same behaviors. I get the pecking order business and that it is natural to chickens but I cannot have her injuring the others. Any suggestions on how I can curb this behavior? Should I isolate her again for longer? It breaks my heart to have her penned up in a confined area and she really is a sweet girl to me but I don't know what else to do to keep the others from being injured by her behavior.

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Welcome to BYC.
That is actually natural behavior.

 

[aart]

Should I isolate her again for longer?

Fake eggs in other nests might help 'spread the love' and change her focus.

Separation can work....or not.
Try it for longer and totally out of sight of the flock,
but keep in mind that sometimes a bird will just not fit for a harmonious flock.

I got rid of a troublemaker a few days ago, wish I had done it a few months ago, things are SO much calmer now. She was not a bully, but a neurotic nest messer, would not leave the nests alone, spent hours pacing in front and in and out of them, emptying them of bedding and disturbing all the other layers. Her and a chronic weak shell maker should be back from processor today to make great pots of stew/stock.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...I also get rid of anyone that disturbs the calmness of the Flock. Separating and then adding back never really works.
Best wishes...