Bad Buff Orpington

[MAT10]

I have a Buff Orpington hen that is two and a half years old. She's completely stopped laying eggs at about 18 months. I have a flock of 10 hens and recently she has become a bully. Discovered she was chasing the other hens out of the nesting boxes no matter which one they were in. I have four nesting boxes, one of which is a double. So, I decided to separate her for about 4 days. Then put her back with the flock. Things seemed good for maybe a week. They free range together fine.

Then, last night I noticed she was bullying them at roosting time. It was like she was Hall Monitor keeping them from roosting, chasing them away. She didn't seem to want their roost spot, just pecking them around, being onery. I have an EE going thru a hard molt & have found her in a nest box twice at roost time which, she has NEVER done. I've heard it can be painful for them so it makes me believe she was hiding. So, there was chaos at roosting time... Feathers EVERYWHERE! So last night I separated her again & all the others settled in just fine.

What is wrong with her? And what should I do?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

Feathers everywhere is from the molting. Mine are molting and it looks like a pillow got shredded in my lawn and barn. Your hen going through a hard molt in the nesting boxes is normal. Mine do that when they are going through the roughest part of the molt they will lay in the nesting boxes or find a quiet corner. Your buff is not laying because it’s that time of year when chickens her age often slow down or stop laying completely for the fall/winter months due to short daylight. Usually chickens for their first laying season will lay through the fall and winter, but their second season the shorter daylight affects them. For her chasing others, the pecking order is not set in stone and will routinely get re-shuffled. If she isn’t injuring the others or drawing blood I would let them sort it out in their own.

 

[MAT10]

Feathers everywhere is from the molting. Mine are molting and it looks like a pillow got shredded in my lawn and barn. Your hen going through a hard molt in the nesting boxes is normal. Mine do that when they are going through the roughest part of the molt they will lay in the nesting boxes or find a quiet corner. Your buff is not laying because it’s that time of year when chickens her age often slow down or stop laying completely for the fall/winter months due to short daylight. Usually chickens for their first laying season will lay through the fall and winter, but their second season the shorter daylight affects them. For her chasing others, the pecking order is not set in stone and will routinely get re-shuffled. If she isn’t injuring the others or drawing blood I would let them sort it out in their own.

She has not laid an egg since Nov 2023

 

[nuthatched]

She has not laid an egg since Nov 2023

Have you done a butt check? She's likely suffering from a reproductive issue, it may be time to cull

 

[MAT10]

Have you done a butt check? She's likely suffering from a reproductive issue, it may be time to cull

What does that mean, cull? What am I looking for with a butt check?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

What is wrong with her? And what should I do?

Bullies not allowed in my flock..

Pecking order is one thing and roost time is often most brutal.. but culling (via ending her life) is an option I would consider (for a relentless bully).

Pinless peepers is an option many who can't or won't cull might consider.

Rehoming is one form of culling.. maybe someone in your area want's a pet hen and doesn't care that she isn't laying and may not again.

I have had hens that quit laying for extended periods, even started crowing.. and eventually returned to lay again.

Hope you find answers that both you and your flock can live peacefully with. Please note that eliminating her from the flock does mean a new pecking order will have to be settled.

For conversation's sake.. curious what your feed routine including treats and supplements is.. the protein % in your standard feed also?

 

[MAT10]

Bullies not allowed in my flock..

Pecking order is one thing and roost time is often most brutal.. but culling (via ending her life) is an option I would consider (for a relentless bully).

Pinless peepers is an option many who can't or won't cull might consider.

Rehoming is one form of culling.. maybe someone in your area want's a pet hen and doesn't care that she isn't laying and may not again.

I have had hens that quit laying for extended periods, even started crowing.. and eventually returned to lay again.

Hope you find answers that both you and your flock can live peacefully with. Please note that eliminating her from the flock does mean a new pecking order will have to be settled.

For conversation's sake.. curious what your feed routine including treats and supplements is.. the protein % in your standard feed also?

Leeland Mills 18% layer mash. Occasional soldier flies, black oil sunflower seeds, scratch, hard boiled eggs (when in abundance), garden waste (mostly tomatoes), pumpkin in the fall & I do sprout lentils & wheat from time to time. Cracked corn during super cold winters just before roosting..

 

[nuthatched]

Leeland Mills 18% layer mash. Occasional soldier flies, black oil sunflower seeds, scratch, hard boiled eggs (when in abundance), garden waste (mostly tomatoes), pumpkin in the fall & I do sprout lentils & wheat from time to time. Cracked corn during super cold winters just before roosting..

Cut way back on the treats, especially the boss and corn.

 

[Altairsky]

Everyone must have a job. Either laying eggs or being good mothers. If a bully is good at one of the aforementioned jobs, I would try to rehab her. But if a bully is no good at any job, then the only next job she could try to be good at would be soup.