Attila the hen

[linhawk]

Well Little Bit has become Attila the Hen.
She was at the bottom of the pecking order. Now I have four 13 week old hens that I have tried to introduce gradually. I have them free ranging and the youngsters can run away and hide from her but eventually they will all need to be in the pen.
My suburban yard is a mess.
How have others solved this? Other than culling her.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Some people use pinless peepers.

My friend tied the legs of the bully... like a hobble... just enough to slow her down for a week or so. It took her down a notch or two and all lived happily ever after.

A time out kennel for the bully still among the flock though, could be helpful.

Oh ya... it will be the bottom of pecking order in the original flock who usually unleashes the most fury onto new comers... she needs to establish and ensure her place still before the new comers push her even lower.

Usually before free ranging together, many will use a look but don't touch set up for a week or two before free ranging together.

And not sure if it is known that culling doesn't always have to mean dispatching but can also just be rehoming.

Seems many people have an Attila the hen!

Good luck.

 

[linhawk]

Haa, she looks like a torpedo when she goes after them. Head down tail straight back.
They will be bigger than her when they are full size. Poor little bit.
BTW what is a pinless peeper?

 

[aart]

Oh ya... it will be the bottom of pecking order in the original flock who usually unleashes the most fury onto new comers... she needs to establish and ensure her place still before the new comers push her even lower.

...or they just revel in finally having ones lower to beat on

BTW what is a pinless peeper?

pinless peeper

I have them free ranging and the youngsters can run away and hide from her but eventually they will all need to be in the pen.

How big is your pen and coop...in feet by feet?

 

[Ridgerunner]

Well Little Bit has become Attila the Hen.
She was at the bottom of the pecking order. Now I have four 13 week old hens that I have tried to introduce gradually. I have them free ranging and the youngsters can run away and hide from her but eventually they will all need to be in the pen.
My suburban yard is a mess.
How have others solved this? Other than culling her.

This isn't that unusual a behavior but is a bit extreme. Mine can get that way on the roosts as they are settling down for the night but are OK during the day. Usually a lower ranking hen that appears to be jealous if her position in the flock as low as it is. When your juveniles mature enough to force their way into the pecking order this problem will resolve itself but I don't know if that will be very violent or not. That's usually about the time they start to lay.

I suggest the time-out approach. Lock the bully up for a week or so before setting her back loose. You can try with the flock the first time but if that doesn't work try isolating her from the flock. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

First I've heard of the hobbling idea, that just might work if she can't run.

 

[HenOnAJuneBug]

My first hatch became the lowest on the pecking order. She took her wrath out on doves that came to poach scratch. It was really funny to watch. She's the only one that's ever done that. The others just ignore them, and whenever they fly by the roosters do their dove audible, which sounds like, "Hey look at that!"

 

[linhawk]

How big is your pen and coop...in feet by feet?[/QUOTE]

About 15 X 16

 

[Ridgerunner]

How big is your pen and coop...in feet by feet?

About 15 X 16[/QUOTE]

But you said you free range. When do they have access to free range and what does that involve? How big is that area? Where are they sleeping now?

 

[BY Bob]

My first hatch became the lowest on the pecking order. She took her wrath out on doves that came to poach scratch. It was really funny to watch. She's the only one that's ever done that. The others just ignore them, and whenever they fly by the roosters do their dove audible, which sounds like, "Hey look at that!"

My Lilly, lowest in our previous pecking order, attacked doves, squirrels, even male ducks. She got on top of a male duck and rode him while trying to peck him in the head this spring. That was one surprised duck!

We have since added two more hens, they know they are below her. She has made it very clear. Never mess with the hen at the bottom!

 

[BY Bob]

My Lilly, lowest in our previous pecking order, attacked doves, squirrels, even male ducks. She got on top of a male duck and rode him while trying to peck him in the head this spring. That was one surprised duck!

We have since added two more hens, they know they are below her. She has made it very clear. Never mess with the hen at the bottom!

She has her eye on all of you.