Battling hens!

[Cryss]

Fraggle needs to be bullied by a more dominant hen or by you. Chase her away frim food and treats and just to do it. She will probably back down from harassing Henneth. She really does need a dose of her own med. Don't hurt her just harass her. It has worked for me.

Maybe, but I don't want Fraggle to fear me later. It's hard enough to try to catch her for inspection.

 

[Shorty22366]

Maybe, but I don't want Fraggle to fear me later. It's hard enough to try to catch her for inspection.

Mine don't. Because I still hand feed mine and sit with them in their run but I don't let them bully each other.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Mine don't. Because I still hand feed mine and sit with them in their run but I don't let them bully each other.

Mine are great I can just pick them up it takes work for that kind of trust. I started when they were tiny.

 

[Cryss]

I think you should remove Fraggle from the flock for maybe a week so that the pecking order can shift and she will be the newcomer.

Yup. Had to take steps today. I let Henneth out of her protective cage today to see how things would go. She has been separated from the flock only by the wire dog cage. She immidiatly ran into the nesting area and Fraggle and Petra both started chasing her. That's it I'm done. I took the cage to the patioand set it all up. I locked Henneth inside the coop, the flock outside in the run. At night when it got dark it was easy to pick up the two offenders and take them up to the patio and into the cage. Open the coop, let the flock join Henneth inside, and locked them all up for the night. Good night!
Tomorrow is a new day. Think good thoughts for Henneth.

Fraggle needs to be bullied by a more dominant hen or by you. Chase her away frim food and treats and just to do it. She will probably back down from harassing Henneth. She really does need a dose of her own med. Don't hurt her just harass her. It has worked for me.

I tried that for awhile. How long does it actually take? All it did was make them avoid me like the plague but still chased Henneth. The rest of the flock got upset with me too. Roopecca the rooster "Fluffed" at me several times.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

When integrating a chicken or two into the flock for the first 2 weeks the newcomer(s) were chased about but eventually they were accepted by my girls.

You may want to consider getting rid of the Barred Plymouth Rocks and maybe getting 2 Easter Egger pullets instead.

 

[Cryss]

@Cryss you didn’t leave the Plymouth Rocks our in the dog crate on the patio did you?

Yes, covered in tarp,, surrounded by furniture. If I bring them indoors they won't be acclimated to the cold we are about to get. Suggestions?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Yes, covered in tarp,, surrounded by furniture. If I bring them indoors they won't be acclimated to the cold we are about to get. Suggestions?

Leave them in the run in the crate is my suggestion.

 

[andreanar]

Yes, covered in tarp,, surrounded by furniture. If I bring them indoors they won't be acclimated to the cold we are about to get. Suggestions?

Problem with that is that a raccoon can reach thru and pull them thru the bars and kill them, a possum,mink etc can all get in. Do you have a garage or shed?
I totally get that your frustrated. Keep the offenders locked away for a few days.

 

[Cryss]

When integrating a chicken or two into the flock for the first 2 weeks the newcomer(s) were chased about but eventually they were accepted by my girls.

You may want to consider getting rid of the Barred Plymouth Rocks and maybe getting 2 Easter Egger pullets instead.

I've introduced 2 new birds twice with no problems by housing them in the cage inside the run for about 2 weeks each time. When I let the newcomers out there was some mild chasing and pecking but it settled within about 24 hours. Henneth was one of the first 2 introduced to my small then flock of three. Fraggle and Petra were the last two and that was 35 weeks ago.
I hate the thought of getting rid of the Rocks.

 

[Cryss]

Problem with that is that a raccoon can reach thru and pull them thru the bars and kill them, a possum,mink etc can all get in. Do you have a garage or shed?
I totally get that your frustrated. Keep the offenders locked away for a few days.

I do not have a garage, basement, or an empty usable shed. I am locking them away. I just don't know what else to do. If they are in the run in the cage they won't lose their status.