Another twist on Bullying

[Murphy212]

Hello, been a member for a couple of years but don't post much. I have had a wonderful experience with my flock and thought I had a handle on it. However.just when you get confident..........anyway, I have a flock of 10 two years old hens. I have raised them from "chick hood" with no new introductions. These chickens have a 6 x 8 coop, a fenced 408 foot run surrounding the coop., an additional fenced wooded area adjacent to the run, and many opportunities to free range with my supervision. In other words way more space than is required for the number of chickens. I do not have a rooster,but a bully hen who may think she is a rooster. I observe them from inside my house and never see any signs of bullying or problems. However, whenever I am with the flock either cleaning, feeding, watering, or dispersing treats. I have one hen, a barred rock, who jumps on the others whenever I show any attention to them. She is not the biggest hen, but she acts as if she is in charge. For example, if I pick one up for any reason, she jumps on her the moment I put her down. Have had no blood shed yet but it may be a matter of time. The smallest hen has had quite a few of her chest feathers pulled out....she looks a little ragged, but no injuries. I have read a lot of the articles and previous posts about bullying and still am not sure what to do about this situation. It seems as I am the trigger of the bullying, she doesn't want them to have anything to do with me or she jumps on them. I think she needs to be knocked down the order a few pegs but not sure how to go about it. Should I put her in a separate pen for a few days? If so, where should this pen go? In the run? the coop? How do I provide her access to the nests? Should she be seen by the rest of the flock or should I place her away from the flock?
Any advice on what to do with this hen will be appreciated,
Murphy

 

[mimisus]

I eagerly read your post, then scrolled for some answers, because I have a sorta-similar situation. I'm sorry for your problem. Guess I'll keep looking for answers elsewhere. Good luck!!! Hopefully won't be too long before someone with experience in this kind of bullying comes along and offers suggestions.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Place her in a separate pen, as far away from the flock as you can manage. They shouldn't be able to see, and preferably, hear her. It should be like she just disappeared, and that's she's a new bird when you reintroduce her.

 

[aart]

Hello, been a member for a couple of years but don't post much. I have had a wonderful experience with my flock and thought I had a handle on it. However.just when you get confident..........anyway, I have a flock of 10 two years old hens. I have raised them from "chick hood" with no new introductions. These chickens have a 6 x 8 coop, a fenced 408 foot run surrounding the coop., an additional fenced wooded area adjacent to the run, and many opportunities to free range with my supervision. In other words way more space than is required for the number of chickens. I do not have a rooster,but a bully hen who may think she is a rooster. I observe them from inside my house and never see any signs of bullying or problems. However, whenever I am with the flock either cleaning, feeding, watering, or dispersing treats. I have one hen, a barred rock, who jumps on the others whenever I show any attention to them. She is not the biggest hen, but she acts as if she is in charge. For example, if I pick one up for any reason, she jumps on her the moment I put her down. Have had no blood shed yet but it may be a matter of time. The smallest hen has had quite a few of her chest feathers pulled out....she looks a little ragged, but no injuries. I have read a lot of the articles and previous posts about bullying and still am not sure what to do about this situation. It seems as I am the trigger of the bullying, she doesn't want them to have anything to do with me or she jumps on them. I think she needs to be knocked down the order a few pegs but not sure how to go about it. Should I put her in a separate pen for a few days? If so, where should this pen go? In the run? the coop? How do I provide her access to the nests? Should she be seen by the rest of the flock or should I place her away from the flock?
Any advice on what to do with this hen will be appreciated,
Murphy

I would 'peck' the bully on the head with the end of your finger when she's being mean...as soon as she approaches the hen you just put down...or push the bully away.
Be the 'head hen'.

Curious do you pick up the bully hen too?

 

[Murphy212]

Thanks for the responses.....I do pick her up too, especially if she has just jumped on someone. It is not always easy as she sometimes doesn't want to be touched. But I try every time and most times succeed. I also try to pick her up when she has not been aggressive......just to show her who is in charge. She just hasn't gotten the message yet.
I also "peck" her when she acts up. But will try to be more "aggressive" with her to show her I am in charge, not her.
Isolating her will be difficult but if she doesn't improve, that will be my next move.
Discovered a half eaten egg in the nests yesterday, so that situation has moved to the front of the line.....but is the topic of another thread.
Thanks again

 

[RonP]

It's a chicken thing...

She is obviously the alpha.

Ridding her will move another up the line, hopefully not as aggressive.

Place her in a separate pen, as far away from the flock as you can manage. They shouldn't be able to see, and preferably, hear her. It should be like she just disappeared, and that's she's a new bird when you reintroduce her.

This might work, keep her separated for a minimum of 3 weeks, but she might still be the alpha when she returns, and battle everyone for position.

 

[aart]

...... but she might still be the alpha when she returns, and battle everyone for position.

I have one like that, 3yo not laying but once a week and a major B*tch......that's her name in fact....she's gonna taste good!

 

[RonP]

I have one like that, 3yo not laying but once a week and a major B*tch......that's her name in fact....she's gonna taste good!

The bigger pain they are, the sweeter they taste...