Bully Hen

[Sammster]

Add a quarter teaspoon of the powder to this hen's food twice a day. Or if you elect to use the capsules, give one-half or one capsule directly into her beak twice a day. Tryptophan has a sedative effect on chickens. They slow down and become lazy, preferring to just lounge about.

I used it on my flock as I had, and still do, several feather pickers, and I wanted to control it. I didn't pursue it, though. It has such a sedating effect, my chickens turned into zombies.

But for a favorite chicken with a serious bullying problem, perhaps being sedated is preferable to killing and eating her.

@azygous this might help me with my bully problem. And I also have a feather plucker. I looked at the capsules and there are many different strengths. What strength would you recommend?

P.S. my old holistic doctor had me on this once, years ago. Helped with stress and sleep

 

[azygous]

Going for the tryptophan capsules, I would choose the smallest dosage. By the way, I would give the tryptophan in the afternoon when your chickens normally loaf and socialize. That's when feather picking peaks on any give day.

 

[Sammster]

Going for the tryptophan capsules, I would choose the smallest dosage. By the way, I would give the tryptophan in the afternoon when your chickens normally loaf and socialize. That's when feather picking peaks on any give day.

Thank you ♡

 

[aking19]

Update, I let the bully back out in the flock after a week of total isolation. It was as if she never left. And she is straight up acting like a rooster!! She is dropping a wing and doing the rooster dance. She continues to mount the other girls too. I have no idea what to do. Stuff just got real

 

[FrostRanger]

It sounds like she's taking the role of a rooster. I'd give the higher protein feed and pinless peepers a try just to see if it gets her to a more manageable level, otherwise either rehome her with full disclosure or cull her. She might do better in a flock with more assertive hens and a rooster so if it comes to that, I'd give her a chance elsewhere

 

[aking19]

It sounds like she's taking the role of a rooster. I'd give the higher protein feed and pinless peepers a try just to see if it gets her to a more manageable level, otherwise either rehome her with full disclosure or cull her. She might do better in a flock with more assertive hens and a rooster so if it comes to that, I'd give her a chance elsewhere

Thanks for the suggestions. I think I may try to rehome her, I hate to since she is my favorite but her behavior today was awful. I could always tell she was head hen but only the last few weeks has her behavior gotten really bad. She may do better in a different flock dynamic, like you said.

 

[aking19]

Posting another update. We ended up getting a rooster back in July, and while he was young compared to the gals in the flock, he established himself rather quickly and my bully hen knocked off her garbage. She is still in the flock and behaving herself and the cockerel now about 9 mos old (Archie) is in charge. Not saying that is the solution every time, but adding a rooster to our flock again seemed to remedy the situation and restore some order. He actually steps in when they get crazy and I was surprised by how fast most of the girls took to him.

 

[FrostRanger]

Glad you found a solution! Certainly not the solution every time and not every roo will stop bully hens, but it sounds like your roo is a very good boy. I wish you and all them well!

 

[aking19]

Glad you found a solution! Certainly not the solution every time and not every roo will stop bully hens, but it sounds like your roo is a very good boy. I wish you and all them well!

Thank you! Hopefully he stays a good boy lol. Our last one was mean as a snake.