Bullying Behavior?

[rosieabby]

Hi there,
We got 3 Barred Rock chicks in June. Two are laying but one has always been a bit smaller and has taken more time for her comb to redden etc. We are getting an egg a day from the two bigger ones, but not the smallest one (Dexter.) Maybe 2 weeks ago, the biggest hen (Wingman) started pecking at Dexter. Wingman chases her away from whatever Dexter is doing: eating, foraging, minding her own business. She pecks at Dexter when they are trying to settle in for the night on the roost. Tonight, Dexter was sleeping in the nesting box away from the other two who were on the roost. The middle one gets in on the act every once and a while but when Wingman is laying (or in jail when I separate them) the middle one in nice as pie to Dexter. Do I let things play themselves out? Do I try to separate Wingman for a few days hoping to reset the pecking order?
Any advice would be appreciated. They spend most of the day free ranging in the backyard.
Thanks!

 

[moniquem]

I also had a bully barred rock. I got 4 chicks this past spring, 1 each BR, BA, SS and EE. they all got along great until a few months ago when all started laying except the SS.

I did notice the BR being the lead chicken, a bit of bullying that I thought was normal chicken behavior. The final straw for me that made me think she was just a bully chicken was when she pinned the SS in one of the nesting boxes at the entrance to the coop and was kicking and pecking her pretty aggressively. As the cold was right around the corner I was worried that the SS would not be able to roost at night with the others, who incidentely never bullied her.

I decided to re-home the BR, put an add on craigslist that night and she was gone by the next morning. Best decision I ever made.

The remaining chickens, 1 each BA, SS and EE are great now. They all share treats, roost together at night and generally just hang out together. I will never have a bully chicken in the flock again!

Good luck!

 

[aart]

Is Dexter laying yet?
When birds come into lay, pecking orders can accelerate and/or change.
It could be that something is 'not right' about Dexter and that can generate 'drumming a weak bird out of the flock' behaviors.

...and Space, no one ever wants to address this one.
How much space do you have?
Am guessing with only 3 birds your space may be too small.
Dimensions and pics would help.

Crowding can be a real problem with the flock being able to manage their pecking order in a harmonious way.
If a subordinate bird cannot get 5-10 feet away from a dominate bird, the dominate bird may continue to harass the subordinate.

Even if they free range, pecking order issues in the coop/run can carry on anywhere they are. This can become worse if free ranging may be limited by harsh winter weather.

Or you may just have a nasty bird that needs to be taken out of the flock permanently, as moniquem has pointed out.

 

[rosieabby]

Thanks aart and moniquem!
Here are some pics of the set up. It's our first coop.
The run is about 3'x15'.
The roost is 2.5' long.
The floor of the coop is about 3'x4' or a little smaller since we had to change things around a bit after we started the build.

Dexter is not laying yet but the other 2 are.
Pretty Bird (who's in the middle of the pecking order) is in the nesting box in the pic.

Wingman and Dexter tolerating each other!

 

[Mrs. K]

In very small set ups this frequently happens, what was enough room when they were chicks, is no longer enough room when they are full grown. Some birds can tolerate tight confinement and others it will make them incredibly aggressive.

I agree with Monique, solve for the peace of the flock. Remove a bird and see if the tension falls and the two get along. Now if you remove the victim, sometimes the bully will turn her sites on the next bird, if so, remove her.

A stressful flock can ruin the whole experience of keeping chickens. Again some breeds do better in tight confinement. Some birds pay no attention to the breed idea, and just either accept tight confinement or are very aggressive.

I think you would be happier with just two birds, but if you lose one, that is a new set of problems.

Mrs K

 

[rosieabby]

Thanks, Mrs. K!
I'm going to look into moving Wingman along. We kept her in the run today and the other two are getting along famously.
Happy New Year!

 

[Mrs. K]

A peaceful flock is a joy, one that is always fighting is a stressor.