Bantam being really aggressive.

Catt69

In the Brooder
Aug 12, 2016
25
0
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Hiya.
I have 3 silkies about 6 months old. They have a 3 metre run enclosed and i let them have free run of the garden after breakfast.
They started laying a few weeks ago. Just before that, the 2 biggest were doing their chest bumping thing and seemed to have sorted out who's top chick! So, Stoopid won, my white silkie. Hazel my grey silkie is in the middle.

Shortly after they started laying, i noticed Stoopid pecking Hazel. I assumed Stoopid, was just letting Hazel know she's still boss. My little black one Betty, has never been pecked, but does seem to get mothered by Stoopid, which is so sweet.

The last couple of weeks I saw that the pecking got worse! Hazel gets chased almost constantly by Stoopid all around my garden. Hazel tries to keep away from the others, but Stoopid still goes after her for no apparent reason. When they get shut up in their small run, she gets jumped on and pecked wherever she goes. The screams from her are heart wrenching. Each day it gets worse. Getting really worried now.
The last couple of days Hazel has gone broody. Even when i pull her out, within seconds she is pecked by Stoopid, and only stops when Hazel hides.

Please help! What can i do? I do let Hazel and Betty the run of the garden for a while so they can eat and play. Then i let Stoopid out, and after a quick scratch about, she targets Hazel again.

Thank you in advance.
 
Try putting hobbles on the aggressive hen so that her mobility is somewhat compromised.
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Thanks for the reply.
But what are chicken hobbles?
I have googled it but not sure how to do that.
 
You may need to create a separate space for Hazel. I've been lucky so far that my chickens all get along - but I'd eat a chicken that treated other chickens that way. It's one thing to have a pecking order, it's another to harass another chicken until they may kill them. Chickens can be evil sometimes. Evil chickens deserve to be eaten :p
 
Thanks Kajira.
I was thinking about putting the bully (stoopid) in an old dog cage ... they were all so happy with each other, lots of snuggling etc, until a few weeks ago. I do hate Stoopid for doing it, as Hazel is so loving and gentle. But Stoopid is my daughters chicken, and i don't think she'd like it if i ate her!!! Lol
I know bantams can be a bit more aggressive sometimes, my dad had some many moons ago, but he killed them all because they were literally eating each other.

So you think i should seperate Hazel? She's broody at the moment, so she's in the coop most of the time. Until i pull her out for food...it doesn't take Stoopid very long to be attacking her again.
 
Thanks Kajira.
I was thinking about putting the bully (stoopid) in an old dog cage ... they were all so happy with each other, lots of snuggling etc, until a few weeks ago. I do hate Stoopid for doing it, as Hazel is so loving and gentle. But Stoopid is my daughters chicken, and i don't think she'd like it if i ate her!!! Lol
I know bantams can be a bit more aggressive sometimes, my dad had some many moons ago, but he killed them all because they were literally eating each other.

So you think i should seperate Hazel? She's broody at the moment, so she's in the coop most of the time. Until i pull her out for food...it doesn't take Stoopid very long to be attacking her again.
If she's broody, a separate little area with food and water with a tiny A-frame cage like I linked, might work well for her. She'd get to be broody (assuming you want her to be on eggs) and have unfettered access to food/water where no one can harass her.

 
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They are primarily for pets, with eggs being an added bonus!
So I'm not too worŕied about her broodiness. I'm just pulling her out for food.

Could she being attacked more because she is broody? I don't know how it works. Stoopid did attack her more before this though.


I'll try her in the dog cage, as it is all i have. Its pretty big and I'll cover it over.
Would she get pecked more when she goes back in, or would they welcome her back?

Sorry if my questions are stupid.

thank you.
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They are primarily for pets, with eggs being an added bonus!
So I'm not too worŕied about her broodiness. I'm just pulling her out for food.

Could she being attacked more because she is broody? I don't know how it works. Stoopid did attack her more before this though.


I'll try her in the dog cage, as it is all i have. Its pretty big and I'll cover it over.
Would she get pecked more when she goes back in, or would they welcome her back?

Sorry if my questions are stupid.

thank you.
1f60a.png
I'm not an expert on this kind of a problem - but I would think if they hate each other one of them is going to have to be kept separated for good, unless you get rid of "stoopid"

I don't think it has anything to do with her being broody though - and probably more to do with stoopid not liking her for some reason.
 
I think you should isolate Stoopid as she's the bully, keeping her seperate for a couple days will bring her lower in the pecking order and Hazel will be safe will Betty.

If you took Hazel out I think when you brought her back in she would be at the bottom of the pecking order and Stoopid would still peck her.
 
I'm not an expert on this kind of a problem - but I would think if they hate each other one of them is going to have to be kept separated for good, unless you get rid of "stoopid"

I don't think it has anything to do with her being broody though - and probably more to do with stoopid not liking her for some reason. 


They used to be happy with each other. Even when the chest bumping etc happened and Stoopid won
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...they were ok, that's what is baffling me.
I think my daughter would leave home if i got rid of her! Lol ..it may be a last resort though. Breeder i got her from would take her back if needed.

I think you should isolate Stoopid as she's the bully, keeping her seperate for a couple days will bring her lower in the pecking order and Hazel will be safe will Betty.

If you took Hazel out I think when you brought her back in she would be at the bottom of the pecking order and Stoopid would still peck her.


Thats what i thought may help. Should i wait til Hazel's broodiness is over?
 

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