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pipemum said:
Regarding my grey girl and the bullying. Here's what I've done: For the flock, protein levels good, calcium available, diet is up to par. When I'm around, I establish my dominance and "peck" the bullies when they go after grey girl, or anything else. Occasionally I've waited until dusk and then put grey girl in the roost, flicked down any aggressive advances towards her till everyone settles (I don't do this often as I have humans to attend to at dusk...). I just discovered that she's been sleeping alone in the run. Have separated bully from bullied for several days, a few times, with no change in behavior. Is there anything I'm missing? Oh, I did check for poultry ticks last night, in case irritation was causing all the bullying. No ticks, but I'll check again for the next few nights. Anything I'm missing in dealing with the bully/bullied?

The hens were all raised together...the bullying started when grey raised this last batch of meaties. Grey girl is a bantam, the other hens are full-sized. Would it help if I got another bantam or two? Or is it best if I rehomed the little one? I really can't let the situation work itself out...it's been weeks and weeks and she's losing weight.
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Separated means separated - as in separate living quarters, separate runs, or alternating times out in the run. If they are kept together the bullying will continue. You could eat the worst bully and see if that changes the dynamics.
 
No free time together at all? Okay, last resort before rehoming her or adopting some bantam cochins (AZ Son, I'll take you up on that offer if complete and total separation doesn't work). I'll put the marans in rooster coop and she can stay there for a few days with no play time. I don't really like her very much, but I'm not sure I can eat her. That option was on the table (haha) for a bit, but I'm not sure I could do it...plus she's a pretty awesome layer.
 
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Arizona Son said:
Pipemum, I'm happy to give you a few bantam Cochins if you need them for a distraction. I too, have had issues where Barred Rock hens were tremendous bullies, picking on the Bantam Cochin broody hens that pre-dated the Barred Rocks in my flock! They seemed to especially pick on the hens with broods of little peeps! It was unreal! I tried everything you have tried. And I noticed the bullied hens were losing weight too. Like you have noticed, nothing worked and then I ended up losing the Barred Rocks to a middle-of-the-night predator. I think it was Karma!
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Karma indeed! Nice offer, I'll take you up on it if the TOTAL separation of my black marans doesn't work. I should know by next Wednesday or so.
 
We will have a few hen's free to good home by Saturday. . Our new flock is getting older & our new rooster that I totally love jumped out of my hands & hit a wall. He is now limping. . So bummed. . P.M. us for who is avaliable. .
 
So my Blue Ameraucana is setting on a clutch of eggs. We candled them for the first time last night and it was my first time candling them.They are 9 days under her. I think we have viable chicks as we saw veins and an air sack and a big dark spot. We were using a flash light. I need one of those egg candlers. anyway I am pretty excited. Growing up I dont remember how we candled or checked for chicks but they were usually from a broody hen. My hubby is going to build me an incubator. I feel like a little kid again. I am so excited. I even candled a fresh egg to make sure what the difference was...lol yes im a bit cheesy. :)
 
City farm said:
We will have a few hen's free to good home by Saturday. . Our new flock is getting older & our new rooster that I totally love jumped out of my hands & hit a wall. He is now limping. . So bummed. . P.M. us for who is avaliable. .
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It nothing seems broken, then just put him in a crate for a couple days to make sure he can eat and drink without anyone bothering him. See if maybe he just sprained something and it resolves itself.
 
pipemum said:
I'm really worried about my little grey girl.  She's still getting picked on.  I've separated her, separated the bullies...they come back together and she still gets harassed.  She's actually starting to lose weight.  She sleeps alone on a perch outside of the coop, poor thing.  :(   It's 3 hens that are bullying her...the worst is the marans, but the 2 barred rocks are also in on it.  I don't want to start over with a new flock--I have 5 hens, so getting rid of 3 is a big deal.  I don't want to give away grey girl either.  I'm not really sure what to do.  This has been going on for at least 6 weeks and doesn't seem to be getting better. 

I processed two of the cockerels last night.  4 left.  These dudes had testes the size of their hearts.  :bow   I woke in a panic at 1am thinking, "omg, what if those were kidneys and they are enlarged from lack of water????"  (I obviously have issues with those water cups,lol).  I had to rush to the computer to google I had the body parts correct.  Yep, huge balls. 
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I have been separating my aggressive RIR Roos for a few days now and it's going ok. Kind if a pain. My 5 Pullets from 7-8 weeks old stay in the coop with the new 4 week old Pullets at night while the 8 week Roos stay outside in the run. In the morning the Roos go out into the yard and the Pullets into the run. Then mid morning they're fussing at me wanting to come out so the Roosters have to be hand picked and put into the coop, then let the Pullets out into the yard, clost the run door and let the roosters out of the coop into the run. Holy geez that's a lot. All because of these little ******** dudes. I don't want to put the roosters in a kennel though.
 
Bon Voyage BYC AZ Seed Box!

I just met a little chiken and her husband and had a lovely chat. They're taking the seed box to Phoenix tomorrow. I pulled together a big pile from stuff I grew (and some I bought) and the box is almost full! Start gathering your seeds.


 

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