Bad Hen chasing plucking newbies feathers

[Brooks_]

Okay I was thinking that too but not sure how to add without then taking good space away for the hens to run away without becoming trapped. I will see what I can configure. So you don't think chicken jail will work or is a good option for the bad hen?

Can be as simple as an upside down chair(s), a lean to pallet etc.

 

[Brooks_]

Nothing that will cause pinning or cornering, but breaking the line of sight and giving space for over/under, around/behind.

 

[ACluckAboveTheRest]

She's not being a bad hen, she's making sure doesn't get lower in the pecking order. How long did you do the see but no touch method?

(see my quoted reply below for the answer to your how long question) Gotcha so I shouldn't be concerned and I should just let her? Chicken jail won't help with this then and should I not be concerned for the newbies being terrified or for their back feathers? So far I don't see any feather loss but immediately when I separate the one I call a bad hen all is harmonious in the chicken run again. Ugh. I just can't stand seeing them getting chased around and pecked at and her doing the pecking. I want her to be happy, care free and happy go lucky again too.

"Off and on for over a week. We do supervised free ranging when we integrate newbies. And if we are out late in the yard and one of them jumps into the main coop at night then so be it. They have 2 to choose from. For the most part all is harmonious nothing to write home about...I expect a peck here or there from a hen or two even in our established flock but this is different. When we leave the newbies we will divide them up in the run but lately have been testing out without the divider to see if they work things out. The newbies are just being chased around by this one hen. They thankfully have perches they can escape from her on but still they shouldn't have to be terrified. I just don't know if chicken jail is the best for this bad hen who won't stop and for how long I should jail her and should she be adjacent to everyone or in the barn or garage where no one can see one other."

 

[ACluckAboveTheRest]

Nothing that will cause pinning or cornering, but breaking the line of sight and giving space for over/under, around/behind.

Okay they kind of already have that then as our run has two wings (areas) where hens can hang out in and then a main living area as well as 2 coops and perches in the main living area and another in one of the wings. BIG SIGH....okay I guess I let them work it out. I just feel really bad for the newbies as when I separate the troublemaker all is harmonious in the run. Aye yay yay my chicken babies...I love them all even my lone wolf who drives me batty.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Nothing that will cause pinning or cornering, but breaking the line of sight and giving space for over/under, around/behind.

Example from my set up - note that there's gaps behind almost every bit of clutter in my set up. This is deliberate to prevent chickens from getting cornered, and so they can use all sides of the clutter to break up the space. Anything they can get into (like the Covered Feed Area) has at least 1 wide exit or 2 exits, so for example in that feed area I cut an opening on one side so birds can get in and out from 2 sides, again to prevent cornering.

(Pink Xs are feed locations, note that I have them all spread out so no one bird can guard all the feed spots)

 

[hlmford69]

HELP PLS. I have a bad hen who is picking on some newbies. She is not the top hen actually more like the bottom or a lone wolf. She doesn't even stay with the flock most times and does her own thing. She doesn't let me pick her up, she is always the last to come in the run because she doesn't stick with the flock and isn't easy to catch. She is accepted by the flock 100% and is not picked on - she is one of my originals. She is just a little different lol. All my other hens love me/us and come when called or when treats are offered. She will come some times but most times is content just being off on her own. She has never been an issue in any way only an annoyance to me as she does not stick to the regularly scheduled programming LOL. Anyway, we brought in 2 new girls and for the most part the flock accepts them and they are still finding their place but no issues except for.....This bad hen of mine who laser focuses in on them and chases after these girls and aims for their back feathers. She is bullying them and they just run around scared. It's so cruel. I was surprised to see her do it. I put the bad hen in chicken jail in another small crate size hardware covered box adjacent to the larger run. I plan to bring her back in at night so she can go in the coop with the others but how long should I continue to put her in chicken jail and should I move her crate to a place other than adjacent to the main chicken run? HELP pls!

Did you ever get this resolved? And if so, how?
I have the same situation! My hen sounds just like yours. Never stays with the flock, last to come in, gets picked on by the rest. However, her bad behavior is starting to make the rest of the old hens pick on the newbies now too. It's awful to watch. The new girls (Buff Orpintons) are the sweetest chickens ever!

 

[McChooky]

When I accidentally let a 10 week old pullet out of the run the other day she flew over the fence to escape from a hen. Most of my hens don't bother them when one escapes while I'm cleaning or feeding them but this one is relentless. The biggest bullies are often the lowest in the pecking order.

 

[ACluckAboveTheRest]

Did you ever get this resolved? And if so, how?
I have the same situation! My hen sounds just like yours. Never stays with the flock, last to come in, gets picked on by the rest. However, her bad behavior is starting to make the rest of the old hens pick on the newbies now too. It's awful to watch. The new girls (Buff Orpintons) are the sweetest chickens ever!

You know we did but it was more of we continuously disrupted the pecking order or confused her by adding new laying hens. She still kind of does it buts it’s so much less frequent and not as aggressive. She used to be persistent and just cruel and now it’s similar to how the rest of a flock would peck at or warn another hen. She even listens better too. I think she is more comfortable maybe she is up a step in the pecking order it’s hard to tell but either way things are much more harmonious and she herself has changed.

 

[hlmford69]

You know we did but it was more of we continuously disrupted the pecking order or confused her by adding new laying hens. She still kind of does it buts it’s so much less frequent and not as aggressive. She used to be persistent and just cruel and now it’s similar to how the rest of a flock would peck at or warn another hen. She even listens better too. I think she is more comfortable maybe she is up a step in the pecking order it’s hard to tell but either way things are much more harmonious and she herself has changed.

Ours is actually a little better too. I added lots of chicken clutter to the run so she couldn’t get to the new ones as easily or at least then could run and hide. I also started paying more attention to the mean hen and would give her some treats and she has calmed down and only picks like she would in a normal pecking order now. I actually saw our tiny silkie go after her this morning. And the buffs seem to be totally fine with her now. Amazing!

 

[ACluckAboveTheRest]

Ours is actually a little better too. I added lots of chicken clutter to the run so she couldn’t get to the new ones as easily or at least then could run and hide. I also started paying more attention to the mean hen and would give her some treats and she has calmed down and only picks like she would in a normal pecking order now. I actually saw our tiny silkie go after her this morning. And the buffs seem to be totally fine with her now. Amazing!

Same almost like she was jealous or didn’t know how to interact with me lol or others lol. Some I guess just take wayyyyyy longer to learn how to be part of a flock. Which is weird because she was always part of a flock of 6 her whole life. We are just happy she is happier and more content