Bully chicken sitting on top of another chicken

[cherylcohen]

oh my gosh, chicken tv strikes again!

We put peepers on my 3 bullies (we have 11 girls- no rooster) and it has completely stopped the pecking HOWEVER in the last few days my Welsummer, Wilma has beent sitting on top of my BLR splash Wyandotte, Emma. She the 2nd to the losest on the chicken totem pole.

Lots of squawking when that happens, poor Emma...is this just another form of chicken brutality?

 

[cherylcohen]

Can anyone help with this today?

 

[WingingIt]

I've never experienced that, but it does sound like a dominance thing. Maybe if you took Wilma out and kept her isolated for a few days she'd have to re-earn a spot on the pecking order and maybe Emma would be above her and wouldn't allow it any longer?

Good luck!

 

[thespinningcottage]

Could they still be battling it out for pecking order? How long has Emma been in there, or are they brooder-mates? My 20 week olds have been in with my big girls for about 2 weeks now and pinching was the issue for us. No blood was ever drawn, or being denied food or water, but mean senseless pinches abounded. That lasted for 2 weeks and now they've all settled down. The 2 little girls know their place is at the bottom and need no reminders. Good luck with yours!

 

[fordmommy]

Quote:
I agree here. I think the bully needs a time out.

 

[cherylcohen]

We've had wilma on time out a few times and like I mentioned she and two others have the peepers on. It must be a bully thing she seems to even get a few others to gang up on her. No pecking tho because of the peepers. She's probably frustrated that she can't peck poor emma. emma and two buff orpingtons were added to our flock about 2 months ago. The flock is all about 7-10 months. Emma and one of the buffs are the youngest. All 11 are laying.

I can isolate Wilma again for a few weeks but it's such a drag since she's laying...argh could wilma be a rooster in a pass life?
This is Wilma

And this is SWEET SWEET EMMA

 

[mkwags]

I agree with the timeout thing. Your hens are great looking! Very pretty girls!

 

[Uzuri]

It is the unfortunate truth in the chicken world that the nice guy usually finishes last. Might makes right. But giving her a time out may well help.

And they are darned pretty girls, both of them!

 

[cherylcohen]

If I put her on time out...do you think she will lay if I provide a make-ship nest box?