And still nobody decides to help me!

[Jman45]

i have 4 yellow buff Orpingtons, two pullets one cockerel and one hen. Bought them all from the same place. But I noticed the older hen is basically bullying young ones. They will be eating and she comes and pecks them away. Then tonight, I tried to put her on the roost with the rest of them but as soon as I did she started pecking at them. What do I do?

 

[Jman45]

Thanks for the help! Appreciate all of you guys giving me advice (oh wait y’all aint helping)​

 

[ShouldabeenaVET]

You can try to separate her. You can cull her. I've only kept nasty hens away in a separate area and they usually quit this behavior. Or Ive made soup. sorry thats all I've got

 

[The Phantom]

Rehome her or cull her

 

[Jman45]

You can try to separate her. You can cull her. I've only kept nasty hens away in a separate area and they usually quit this behavior. Or Ive made soup. sorry thats all I've got

They eat together during the day though and are fine

 

[Pugsabi]

The different ages are the problem. You might have to let them fight it out, as long as she's not drawing blood, in order to establish pecking order. Something else you might have to watch out for is the cockerel. Orpingtons are supposed to be sweet roos but sometimes he can wear out the hens while trying to mate with them.

 

[Jman45]

The different ages are the problem. You might have to let them fight it out, as long as she's not drawing blood, in order to establish pecking order. Something else you might have to watch out for is the cockerel. Orpingtons are supposed to be sweet roos but sometimes he can wear out the hens while trying to mate with them.

Yeah she’s not drawing any physical injuries or nothing like that but they all peck at one another... pretty sure this is the pecking order taking place. But the roo is the same age as the two pullets

 

[Pugsabi]

Yeah she’s not drawing any physical injuries or nothing like that but they all peck at one another... pretty sure this is the pecking order taking place. But the roo is the same age as the two pullets

You might not have anything to worry about. Mine took about two weeks to stop picking on the youngest one. Now they play tag by charging at each other with their feathers fluffed out.

 

[Jman45]

The different ages are the problem. You might have to let them fight it out, as long as she's not drawing blood, in order to establish pecking order. Something else you might have to watch out for is the cockerel. Orpingtons are supposed to be sweet roos but sometimes he can wear out the hens while trying to mate with them.

But when I tried to put her on the roost with the younger ones she pecked at one of them

 

[Pugsabi]

Roos tend to mature a bit earlier than the pullets so he might be ready to mate before they are ready to let him. If you notice feathers missing from their backs etc that might be what is happening. But I might be borrowing trouble and you never have a problem.