Bullied chicken is aggressive with me.

[chickengr]

can you keep roosters? I once had similar situation. as soon as I got a roo he put hens in line.

 

[WoDia]

@TXHmstdr I don’t think she should be put down. Being your favorite, you can find ways to deal with her idiosyncrasies. She’s scared of the other hens, frustrated, and confused. She’s acting out and directs her frustration toward you, because she’s attempting to be assertive and at the top of her own pecking order. Currently, she sees you, your family, and dog as potential “flock mates” that she may be able to dominate. There’s one thing I think could possibly help change her behavior… adding some more hens to your flock. I’m only saying that it may help with her being bullied by the others, and it can give her some other hens to place her focus on. I love the photo of her staring through the window. Pretty girl. I hope you find a way for her, and you, to find some peace in the flock.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Just carry her around. That's what I do when one of mine decide to come after me (usually a bantam rooster). I don't think you need to put her down or get rid of her. She's obviously attached to you and your dog. Barking dogs annoy me too. I have 3. If I had a chicken that put them in their place, she would be a keeper.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Adding 2-3 hens to your flock would definitely help as @WoDia suggested. She won't be lowest in pecking order, and redirects their attention to the new arrivals.

If you have the space of course for additions.

 

[TXHmstdr]

can you keep roosters? I once had similar situation. as soon as I got a roo he put hens in line.

Neighbor has a rooster - I thought about borrowing but worried about biohazards.

I don’t think I’ll be able to keep a rooster, just commitment-wise.

 

[cherrysPolishchicks]

So… if I get rid of her, would the next-in line do the same?

I’ve never had a human aggressive hen. Can you have a rooster? I know my roosters do not tolerate the girls fighting.

 

[DoniJ]

I couldn’t find an answer to this anywhere - so I’d really appreciate any help!

I have a flock of 4 hens, no rooster. 2 Anconas and 2 Blue Cuckoo Marans.

All are the same age - bought together as chicks, raised together.

Three of them get along great. But one of my Marans (She’s physically larger than the rest) is consistently getting bullied. One time it got bad enough that I had to separate her and help her get stronger.

There’s a clear pecking order and she seems to be at the very bottom.

Sometimes, however, she gets pretty aggressive with me, my family, and my dog. (On one particular day when my dog was barking annoyingly she ran up all puffy up to her and got her to shut up lol)

I’ve tried the tricks I’ve seen here but I’m not sure if any of them are really working.

I pick her up and hold her tightly, let her sleep in my arms… but afterwards she seems to not only get bullied worse but challenges me directly too.

I’ve tried to hold her neck down and “mount” her like a rooster would - but as soon as I do the rest of my flock gangs up on her while I’ve got her down.

I can’t bring myself to put her down - she’s honestly my favorite… she waits for me by the door every evening (lol) She’s the best layer and she eats her food in a funny, aggressive way. She has a quirky personality. When I give them berries she grabs one quick and runs away, then comes back and steals the other’s berries. LOL!

Doesn’t the chicken at the top of the order usually attack humans and not the one at the bottom?

Does anyone have a similar experience and knows what to do?

(She’s the one in the back - also look at the way she waits for me to come with snacks… too cute!)

I have had to separate my hens from time to time because of bullying. First, if she needs healing, absolutely separate her from the others. I use a dog crate/kennel/cage (whatever you want to call those things). If possible, keep it where they will still be near each other, but not able to get AT each other. Once she is healed, take the one who is doing the most bullying and put her in the dog carte. Make her stay there longer. When she comes out, there will be a whole new "pecking order" and she won't be at the top!