Bully Chicken! Any Suggestions?

[aart]

The Mask of Shame is on. Fingers crossed this works - so far so good!

BRAhahahaha!

I had planned on taking off the peepers today since that would've been 2 weeks, but now both victim (Mozart, because it's getting tiring referring to pecking order rank instead of name) and bully (Dumpling) are molting now. Mozart's back looks even more terrible with the new feathers coming in and the old ones coming out, and I don't want to risk getting everyone started picking on her.

The analogy about a pillow exploding was spot on for Dumpling. I came home Thursday and thought for sure something had gotten in the fence and mauled her. There are drifts of white feathers EVERYWHERE.

Might be good to wait....new pin feathers getting bitten/broken can make a bloody mess and incite a cannibalistic riot.
Porcupine/hedgehog chickens....I had one a couple weeks ago, she looked terrible!

 

[MissIvoryB]

Well, it's been about a month with the peepers on. She'd been doing so well with the others that I decided to take them off yesterday. Now granted, it was a long, high-stress chase around the yard to catch her, and there's been comb-pinching and injured nostrils involved both when I put them on and when I took them off. But, she went right back to pecking and chasing the others. She locked eyes with Mozart across the yard and took off like a shot after her. UGH!!! I'll check on her tonight to see if she's done venting all of her frustrations, but I'm not getting my hopes up of her ever being a nice chicken. Would it be cruel to just leave the peepers on for good?

 

[aart]

I've never used peepers...but do they totally block their nostrils, turning them into 'mouth breathers'?

Not sure what your goals are for your flock, but I'd turn that 'B' into a nice pot of stew if she draws even one more drop of blood from another bird.

 

[MissIvoryB]

She was able to breathe through her nose with them on.

The only thing that's stopped me from eating her is she was a really good layer before she started moulting. But, I've got 10 other chickens that are the sweetest, most docile, and loving babies ever - 7 of which are due to start laying this month. We don't need her...

 

[EggSighted4Life]

That's too bad. I would think peepers on the aggressor would be better than being uncomfortable for the other hen that isn't causing problems that would have to return back to the previous housing. I do know that many chickens have figured out how to be jerks even with the peepers on. But if it's working for you and she isn't loosing weight or anything.... Which do you think is a better situation between the two? Sometimes when there is no preferred option, it's a matter of choosing the lesser of the evils... kinda like this years presidential election.

Also, instead of chasing her around when you wanna do something it is a lot easier to catch them at roost time once they are already calm and inside.

Of course, I actually agree with @aart but I totally understand that not everybody is comfortable with that.

To your credit, you have tried really hard to provide a good life for all of your girls including the trouble maker. What is her name again? Maybe she doesn't like classical music!

 

[aart]

She was able to breathe through her nose with them on.

The only thing that's stopped me from eating her is she was a really good layer before she started moulting. But, I've got 10 other chickens that are the sweetest, most docile, and loving babies ever - 7 of which are due to start laying this month. We don't need her...

How old is she?
My light brahmas were the sweetest birds only ones that wanted to be touched/picked up-tho kind of bullies to the other birds,
and I loved their white and black plumage, but they were lousy layers after the first year.
I sold them to a pet home instead of butchering, tho they were meaty girls.....feed consumption went way down after they left.

Tough decision...Best of cLuck making it.

 

[MissIvoryB]

Her name is Dumpling, appropriately. Since she came to my place, I've just been calling her Meanness though, lol.

She's a little over 2 years old. Her previous owner said she was laying 4-5 a week when she wasn't brooding (another problem I get to look forward to dealing with with her). Her and Mozart are easily my biggest and heaviest birds until the others are full grown. Maybe that's why she targets her. Dumpling is a touch-me-not. But, after the isolation treatment and peeper process, I can't really blame her for running from me.

I'll probably end up just putting them back on and hope everyone goes back to getting along.

Anyway, thank you everyone for your help. I really do appreciate your time and advice with this.