Bully Rhode Island Red

[DesertBird]

Oh, gosh. I have 8 RIR's, 5 hens and 3 accidental roos, and 6 Barred Plymouth Rock's, and planning to get maybe 8 more; possibly all EE's. The feed store employee's told us the exact same thing about the RIR's, so we got them, and they're only 4 months. They're not introduced yet, and we don't have the EE's yet, but I can already see a bit of bullying going on between my RIR's moreso than what goes on between my Barred.
Good luck with yours!!
I saw on another thread here that someone used a mixture of flour and cocoa powder to stop the blood in an already bleeding cut and to make it less obvious to the other chickens.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

When my daughter was in Middle School, the girls (it's an all girls school) were taught about unhealthy relationships. I think this applies to your flock, if your RIR can't behave after multiple time outs, perhaps she should be re homed. Have a talk with your daughter, I don't know how old she is, but she may benefit from the talk as well. No one should be bullied, even if they are a chicken.

 

[Sharwig]

I was told that very same thing!! I originally bought six... never again. I'm going to keep in an extra coop I have for a few days. Is there an anti pecking spray that won't discolor her you can recommend?

I haven't found an anti-peck product yet that works. I ended up purchasing a saddle for my Barred Rock (Amazon) which protects her back, but her shoulders are also picked bare so. we've tried taping them up with black electrical tape. This works for a time, but you have to keep replacing it and then be careful when the feathers start to come back in....which hers haven't yet, but that's another story!

 

[MassChick]

When my daughter was in Middle School, the girls (it's an all girls school) were taught about unhealthy relationships. I think this applies to your flock, if your RIR can't behave after multiple time outs, perhaps she should be re homed. Have a talk with your daughter, I don't know how old she is, but she may benefit from the talk as well. No one should be bullied, even if they are a chicken.

She's 14. We've already started having this conversation believe me. I totally understand what you are saying. Good life lesson. And Clarabelle, the Buff, is just the sweetest little girl. She doesn't deserve this.

 

[MassChick]

I haven't found an anti-peck product yet that works. I ended up purchasing a saddle for my Barred Rock (Amazon) which protects her back, but her shoulders are also picked bare so. we've tried taping them up with black electrical tape. This works for a time, but you have to keep replacing it and then be careful when the feathers start to come back in....which hers haven't yet, but that's another story!

Haha, unfortunately it's her little head getting picked on. That's too funny though about the tape

 

[Folly's place]

We all do learn, and it is fun and educational to get many different breed types, and then find out what works in your flock. We all develop preferences, and that's great. So many breeds, so little space! Mary

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Mine is 14 as well, and had to use this last year as an old friend of hers became bossy, my daughter had to move on. She is much happier now and more confident than ever. Yes, it's a great life lesson.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Please be careful with the head pecking, had to put a young roo down years ago, due to older, bantam roo repeatedly attacking the head. Had tried to re home him, and had to take him back, because he was not being protected from the adult banty roo at the new home. But it was too late, he was blind and brain damaged after a week of repeated head pecking. Tried to keep him anyway, but he couldn't find his food or water, in the end he would just peck the air. Putting him down was the kindest thing, but very hard. Needless to say, we don't have anything to do with the people we tried to re home him to. They were friends before this.

 

[MassChick]

Please be careful with the head pecking, had to put a young roo down years ago, due to older, bantam roo repeatedly attacking the head. Had tried to re home him, and had to take him back, because he was not being protected from the adult banty roo at the new home. But it was too late, he was blind and brain damaged after a week of repeated head pecking. Tried to keep him anyway, but he couldn't find his food or water, in the end he would just peck the air. Putting him down was the kindest thing, but very hard. Needless to say, we don't have anything to do with the people we tried to re home him to. They were friends before this.

Oh that's so sad. I'm glad you did the right thing. I hate to see any animal suffer. I have a wonderful vet who was kind enough to put my austrolorp down when her crop got doughy and we just couldn't save her.

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Thank you, it was a very unpleasent learning experience.