georgiashens
Songster
Hi everyone! A few years ago, I got my first chickens, 3 hens from a local breeder. They had a few pecking order scraps as they got used to the smaller flock but nothing serious and got on really great after that. I lost one unexpectedly and decided to expand the flock a little. I got 2 day olds from a different local breeder.
I knew introducing the new girls was going to be a challenge but after lots of research, I felt confident that I could do it! They stayed separated in their own part of the run for 6 weeks once they were old enough to move outside until I began short supervised free range sessions. The top hen was rude now and then but it was never to bad. Once they got used to this, I started having the run open during the free range sessions and one day, they all were put away together on one run. For months, they were absolutely fine. The top hen continued to be a bit bossy (kicking them out of the dust bath, pecking them away from high value food, etc) but I knew this was just normal pecking order stuff.
However, after nearly 6 months of them being together, the top hen began really bullying. She was constantly picking on the younger girls and being really spiteful. I decided to give it some time in hopes that it would settle down with time but it ended up escalating. At night, she’d sit beside one of the girls and pull out her feathers at night time. She would cause injuries to her face and shoulders too aswell as mount them as a rooster would. Then she began on the other girl and i decided that enough was enough. I tried a rooster saddle but my poor girl was so stressed so I took it off, I tried separating her at night but she would just do it in the day instead.
I separated her last week. I divided the run into two sections. She wasn’t happy but I couldn’t have her causing damage to the others. Today, I decided to give her a chance at free roaming with everyone. It seemed to be going okay until one of the younger girls snuck into her side of the run while I was distracted cleaning. She sprinted after her, pinned her to the ground and was full on attacking her. I pulled her off and the younger girl ran back out. She had damaged feathers and was panting with the stress. I locked her away again.
Tonight when I was waiting for them to go to bed, I saw the other older girl attacking one of the younger ones really spitefully. She had cornered her and was continuously pecking at her back and every time she’d try to get away, she’d grab her feathers and carry on. I took the older girl out and put her in the separate run with the other. They were both fine with this since they have been together for 2 years and have always been good friends.
Now I don’t know what to do. Should I rehome them to a bigger flock with a rooster where they will be put in their place? Keep them in their own pairs for the rest of their lives? Or should I attempt to restore peace within the flock - I’m not even sure how I’d go about this! Please let me know what you think I should do and what you think may be causing this! I will attach some pictures of the damage done to one of the younger girls and their set up
I knew introducing the new girls was going to be a challenge but after lots of research, I felt confident that I could do it! They stayed separated in their own part of the run for 6 weeks once they were old enough to move outside until I began short supervised free range sessions. The top hen was rude now and then but it was never to bad. Once they got used to this, I started having the run open during the free range sessions and one day, they all were put away together on one run. For months, they were absolutely fine. The top hen continued to be a bit bossy (kicking them out of the dust bath, pecking them away from high value food, etc) but I knew this was just normal pecking order stuff.
However, after nearly 6 months of them being together, the top hen began really bullying. She was constantly picking on the younger girls and being really spiteful. I decided to give it some time in hopes that it would settle down with time but it ended up escalating. At night, she’d sit beside one of the girls and pull out her feathers at night time. She would cause injuries to her face and shoulders too aswell as mount them as a rooster would. Then she began on the other girl and i decided that enough was enough. I tried a rooster saddle but my poor girl was so stressed so I took it off, I tried separating her at night but she would just do it in the day instead.
I separated her last week. I divided the run into two sections. She wasn’t happy but I couldn’t have her causing damage to the others. Today, I decided to give her a chance at free roaming with everyone. It seemed to be going okay until one of the younger girls snuck into her side of the run while I was distracted cleaning. She sprinted after her, pinned her to the ground and was full on attacking her. I pulled her off and the younger girl ran back out. She had damaged feathers and was panting with the stress. I locked her away again.
Tonight when I was waiting for them to go to bed, I saw the other older girl attacking one of the younger ones really spitefully. She had cornered her and was continuously pecking at her back and every time she’d try to get away, she’d grab her feathers and carry on. I took the older girl out and put her in the separate run with the other. They were both fine with this since they have been together for 2 years and have always been good friends.
Now I don’t know what to do. Should I rehome them to a bigger flock with a rooster where they will be put in their place? Keep them in their own pairs for the rest of their lives? Or should I attempt to restore peace within the flock - I’m not even sure how I’d go about this! Please let me know what you think I should do and what you think may be causing this! I will attach some pictures of the damage done to one of the younger girls and their set up
