Chicky Man
In the Brooder
Hi All,
Im trying to figure out what is causing one of my hens to bully another and I am stumped so wondered if anyone had any advice.
For a bit of background I have 3 hens living together in a 5 m2 run (Give or take 53 square feet). I used to have 5 however over the last few years we have lost 2 (One 4 months ago and one about a year ago)
The floor is bark chipped apart from the dust bath area.
They have branches to climb, logs to climb, and branches attached about a metere or so of the ground which they sit on and climb.
They have constant access to food (pellets), water and chicken grit. They have three hanging feeders with treats in. The feeders are all different and require different interaction to get the food out (for example one is slightly to high for them but has string attached that when they tug it treats fall out).
The treat feeders contain things such as grain and sunflower seed.
The three hens are one old hybrid layer (around 6, she used to be a nightmare hen but has mellowed out in her old age) and two chicks I hatched out myself (they are just under 4 years old, I suppose they are no longer chicks but force of habbit to call them that). The chicks look a lot like Barred Plymouth rocks. However I got the eggs from a friend who keeps a lot of chickens so most likely they are just random mixes of things. They are smaller than my hybrid layer but larger than a bantam.
All three are laying eggs quite happily.
The bullying problem is between the two younger ones.
Korma is the Bully, She is both braver and smarter than her sister. I taught her how to peck a token for treats and when they come out of the run into the garden she has learned to check particular bushes (such as the raspberies) for food etc.
Tikka is the compleate opposite. Probably the reason the phrase "Bird brain" exists.
Korma prefers the company of other chickens and will scream loudly if the others are inside laying and she is on her own.
Tikka prefers to be away from the others and when roaming the garden will tend to come and scratch around near myself rather than joining the other two.
Both are easy to handle, pick up etc and neither have any health problems.
Over the last couple of years Korma has got worse when it comes to picking on Tikka. She chases her away from feeders (even though we have multiple). and sometimes she only has to look in the direction of Tikka for her to bolt away.
A lot of the chasing and pecking seems to be caused by an overreaction on Tikkas part. She tends to start racing around the run and darting away (Even if Korma isn't interested in her) which seems to provoke an attack sometimes.
The attacks are usually just Tikka being chased away but if she is caught tend to involve Korma pulling out a clump of feathers.
She doesnt eat the feathers she pulls them out and then spits them on the ground.
This then causes Tikka to stand in the corner on her own and scream as loudly as she can about not being allowed to go near the feeders.
Sorry for the essay but I am at a bit of a loss of what to do and thought the more info the better.
Perhaps I have missed something very simple but as far as I can see they have full access to food, water and grit
they have bordeom busters in the form of treat dispensers and things to climb on.
they have bark to scratch around in and a dust bath.
they have more than the recommended area in the run for 3 birds and they are allowed to roam the garden (Tikka is still chased in the garden)
they are all healthy and laying well.
I am out of ideas. I just can't figure out why they seem to hate eachother.
When they were young if they got seperated the other would constantly call out till they were back together. They have gone from best friends to mortal enemies.
any suggestions would be welcome.
Im trying to figure out what is causing one of my hens to bully another and I am stumped so wondered if anyone had any advice.
For a bit of background I have 3 hens living together in a 5 m2 run (Give or take 53 square feet). I used to have 5 however over the last few years we have lost 2 (One 4 months ago and one about a year ago)
The floor is bark chipped apart from the dust bath area.
They have branches to climb, logs to climb, and branches attached about a metere or so of the ground which they sit on and climb.
They have constant access to food (pellets), water and chicken grit. They have three hanging feeders with treats in. The feeders are all different and require different interaction to get the food out (for example one is slightly to high for them but has string attached that when they tug it treats fall out).
The treat feeders contain things such as grain and sunflower seed.
The three hens are one old hybrid layer (around 6, she used to be a nightmare hen but has mellowed out in her old age) and two chicks I hatched out myself (they are just under 4 years old, I suppose they are no longer chicks but force of habbit to call them that). The chicks look a lot like Barred Plymouth rocks. However I got the eggs from a friend who keeps a lot of chickens so most likely they are just random mixes of things. They are smaller than my hybrid layer but larger than a bantam.
All three are laying eggs quite happily.
The bullying problem is between the two younger ones.
Korma is the Bully, She is both braver and smarter than her sister. I taught her how to peck a token for treats and when they come out of the run into the garden she has learned to check particular bushes (such as the raspberies) for food etc.
Tikka is the compleate opposite. Probably the reason the phrase "Bird brain" exists.
Korma prefers the company of other chickens and will scream loudly if the others are inside laying and she is on her own.
Tikka prefers to be away from the others and when roaming the garden will tend to come and scratch around near myself rather than joining the other two.
Both are easy to handle, pick up etc and neither have any health problems.
Over the last couple of years Korma has got worse when it comes to picking on Tikka. She chases her away from feeders (even though we have multiple). and sometimes she only has to look in the direction of Tikka for her to bolt away.
A lot of the chasing and pecking seems to be caused by an overreaction on Tikkas part. She tends to start racing around the run and darting away (Even if Korma isn't interested in her) which seems to provoke an attack sometimes.
The attacks are usually just Tikka being chased away but if she is caught tend to involve Korma pulling out a clump of feathers.
She doesnt eat the feathers she pulls them out and then spits them on the ground.
This then causes Tikka to stand in the corner on her own and scream as loudly as she can about not being allowed to go near the feeders.
Sorry for the essay but I am at a bit of a loss of what to do and thought the more info the better.
Perhaps I have missed something very simple but as far as I can see they have full access to food, water and grit
they have bordeom busters in the form of treat dispensers and things to climb on.
they have bark to scratch around in and a dust bath.
they have more than the recommended area in the run for 3 birds and they are allowed to roam the garden (Tikka is still chased in the garden)
they are all healthy and laying well.
I am out of ideas. I just can't figure out why they seem to hate eachother.
When they were young if they got seperated the other would constantly call out till they were back together. They have gone from best friends to mortal enemies.
any suggestions would be welcome.
