Bullied bantam

[TheCrazyClucker]

I have a little mutt banty hen, Clover. I have a lot of bantams and large-sized chickens together, and there was never a problem before I got a new Buff Orp, Buffy. She bullies Clover, and she literally grabs Clover by the hackles and shakes her. I have Clover quarantined even though she's not hurt, I just don't want her to get hurt. What should I do? Should I get rid of Buffy?

 

[roostersandhens]

You could get 2 seperate coops. Maybe a bantam coop and a large chicken coop.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

My flock is big and they free range around our farm all day, just going into the coop to sleep every night. So building another coop would be a little pointless... And Buffy's been showing some aggression towards me, she's definitely not timid...

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

Help?

 

[roostersandhens]

hhmm maybe you make clover an indoor bantam. Just a thought.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

We already have a house chicken, a Mille Fluer d'Uccle bantam named Ethel. Like I said, Buffy shows some aggression towards me. I don't know if I should sell her, or what. What should I do?

 

[Den in Penn]

If you are not comfortable with a hen why keep it? If you want to keep an aggressive hen treat her like you would an aggressive rooster. Dominate her, pin her to the ground and hold her there for a while. As to the hen on hen interaction. Separating the bully is the way to go, for about a week completely away from the flock if possible. That way she has to worry about getting her place in the pecking order and not bulling the one(s) she is picking one. Doesn't always work, but its better then having the one picked on having to worry about the pecking order and being bullied when reintroduced.

 

[donrae]

Get rid of Buffy.

 

[TheCrazyClucker]

If you are not comfortable with a hen why keep it? If you want to keep an aggressive hen treat her like you would an aggressive rooster. Dominate her, pin her to the ground and hold her there for a while. As to the hen on hen interaction. Separating the bully is the way to go, for about a week completely away from the flock if possible. That way she has to worry about getting her place in the pecking order and not bulling the one(s) she is picking one. Doesn't always work, but its better then having the one picked on having to worry about the pecking order and being bullied when reintroduced.

I just got Buffy yesterday, and I was giving her time to find her place in the pecking order. I think I'll just get rid of Buffy. I don't want Clover to get hurt.