Bully Chicken

[MooresonaMission]

So we have a mean chicken/ maybe two mean ones. There are two Rhode Island Reds that are constantly mean to other chickens, but especially mean to our White Silky. The white silky is such a sweet bird, but they are awful to her. Tonight the two mean ones wouldn’t let her up in the coop to roost. The one kept pecking her head and then chasing her out. I stood there watching, because I really love the white one so much, trying to think how to help. Is there anything I can do? The one Buff often comes to the White one’s rescue, but not always. I know birds have pecking orders- but my kids have gone to calling the one Big Bad or Nelly Olsen... because she’s such a bully. So maybe I need to do something? Or just figure they will work it out? As a mom- I feel like I should teach these chickens to get along.
And they now have a really large coop, so it’s not tight on space any more. 8x13 feet of grass area and 4x8 coop with 6 4’ long roosting bars. That should be plenty for 8 chickens, right?

 

[Mrs. K]

Silkies are often reported as being bullied on here. I don't know, I have never had one, but generally they are quite a bit smaller, and much gentler than other laying birds. Some people get along fine with mixed types of birds in their flock, but others are in the same place you are. There are some birds that will not work in your flock and set up. Always solve for the peace of the flock. I would either let the Red bullies go, or I would remove the silkie. I would try removing the silkie first. I would give her to a flock that has other silkies.

I do not like strife in my flock, and this kind of tension affects both the victim and the bully. I do not think you can teach them to be nice to each other, most of us don't live in the coop. I would remove a bird or birds from this set up.

It really destroys the pleasure of chickens when you get a bird that is a victim. If you get the victim out of there, you will probably like the reds again. Note: if the reds pick a new victim, then they are the ones that need to go.

Mrs K

 

[SueT]

I once had a very vicious bully who was a Rhode Island Red hen and after reading so many similar reports here, decided never again will I get this breed. Some people strongly disagree with this bias and say their RIR's are wonderful.
Anyway, later I learned you can put Pinless Peepers on a chicken to keep it from pecking others. They are plastic blinders that limit forward sight, and they really work. The chicken can eat, drink, roost...but it can't peck others. This hen wore them a few months after which I removed them and she was reformed. Now she's courteous to everyone, tho still in charge.

 

[MooresonaMission]

Silkies are often reported as being bullied on here. I don't know, I have never had one, but generally they are quite a bit smaller, and much gentler than other laying birds. Some people get along fine with mixed types of birds in their flock, but others are in the same place you are. There are some birds that will not work in your flock and set up. Always solve for the peace of the flock. I would either let the Red bullies go, or I would remove the silkie. I would try removing the silkie first. I would give her to a flock that has other silkies.

I do not like strife in my flock, and this kind of tension affects both the victim and the bully. I do not think you can teach them to be nice to each other, most of us don't live in the coop. I would remove a bird or birds from this set up.

It really destroys the pleasure of chickens when you get a bird that is a victim. If you get the victim out of there, you will probably like the reds again. Note: if the reds pick a new victim, then they are the ones that need to go.

Mrs K

Oh goodness the white Silkie is the absolute favorite of my one daughter... maybe I just separate them? Put the Buff and the Black Silkie in a smaller coop with the white and let the Reds have their own space? But I am glad to know this is sort of typical... not that I want it to continue.

 

[Mrs. K]

I would try the pin-less peepers first. I did not think of that.