Bully hen!

[jojorose8]

Hello all! I separated out a bully last Monday. I had a broody who had stayed with the flock to hatch and then for about a week after the baby was born. Then, the baby got pecked and I brought momma and baby inside for baby to heal (after seeing a vet). After trying to reintegrate momma and baby back with the flock, my bully was attacking the momma and pulling her feathers. I tried separating the bully inside the coop with no luck. So now bully is separated in her own coop and area outside. She’s been there for 5 days and the poor thing is getting very restless and sad. How long do I separate the bully? All the other girls are getting along great now and even let the 6 week old baby sleep on the roosting bars last night. I don’t want to mess that up.

 

[sourland]

Try a monitored reintroduction. Expect some fighting. Hopefully she will be subordinated. If she again starts targeting the chick, back to isolation for her. Good luck.

 

[BabyGirl2]

I've had several problems with bullies (in the pen) myself. An old-timer told me if you separate the bully for about six days to a week then it should be reranked to the bottom of the pecking order. But I've also had to get rid of a bully once, and a second time I removed a hen from the coop and let her free range (not certain I got the bully this time). But I've never had bullies keep bulling babies. My rooster also is very protective of the babies, it might be why bulling babies doesn't last.