Bullying & feather pecking

[rosieflock]

HELP! I have a flock of 5 that we have raised from chicks - together always. There is clearly a pecking order but lately, our sweet SL Wyandotte is pulling feathers out of our Ameraucana's neck area. And seems really aggressive towards her. I noticed today that the others are showing more "interest" in the Ameraucana now. I separated her along with a sweet Leghorn (so she'd have a buddy) into another coop. This coop is small and very temporary (not predator proof at all!) They are all "chilling" out for the day. My hope is to be able to get them all back roosting in the big coop tonight. Am I unrealistic? And does anyone have suggestions on helping curb the behavior???

Thanks so much!!

 

[Ducksandchickens]

If the hen is being mean then I let the chickens take care of it. I only interfere if there is blood

HELP! I have a flock of 5 that we have raised from chicks - together always. There is clearly a pecking order but lately, our sweet SL Wyandotte is pulling feathers out of our Ameraucana's neck area. And seems really aggressive towards her. I noticed today that the others are showing more "interest" in the Ameraucana now. I separated her along with a sweet Leghorn (so she'd have a buddy) into another coop. This coop is small and very temporary (not predator proof at all!) They are all "chilling" out for the day. My hope is to be able to get them all back roosting in the big coop tonight. Am I unrealistic? And does anyone have suggestions on helping curb the behavior???

Thanks so much!!

 

[SueT]

I had a bully who was viciously attacking others. After the 2nd incident of causing a bloody wound, I put little plastic blinders on her, called Pinless Peepers. They snap onto the nostrils and she doesn't seem uncomfortable, she can eat, drink, roost, but there's NO MORE PECKING OTHER CHICKENS. It's a life saver, because she was about to get sent to freezer camp...

 

[rosieflock]

thanks! I've ordered a pinless peeper!

 

[SueT]

You soak it in a cup of boiling water, it becomes pliable, and you can bend it with your fingers and gently put onto the nostrils. It helps to have one person hold the chicken, and another put it on and look at one side, while the chicken holder looks at the other, making sure the ends go in both nostrils. Otherwise, it falls out, and you have to catch the chicken and start over. Our hen got used to it quickly, within a minute.

 

[moniquem]

OMG that is hilarious.

 

[Nksg75]

I agree with the painless peepers!! I have a bully as well, and I put these on her, and it settled her down!!
She still is not nice, but at least the others don't have to endure her as much

 

[aart]

HELP! I have a flock of 5 that we have raised from chicks - together always. There is clearly a pecking order but lately, our sweet SL Wyandotte is pulling feathers out of our Ameraucana's neck area. And seems really aggressive towards her. I noticed today that the others are showing more "interest" in the Ameraucana now. I separated her along with a sweet Leghorn (so she'd have a buddy) into another coop. This coop is small and very temporary (not predator proof at all!) They are all "chilling" out for the day. My hope is to be able to get them all back roosting in the big coop tonight. Am I unrealistic? And does anyone have suggestions on helping curb the behavior???

Thanks so much!!

How old are these birds?
I'd separate the bully, not the 'victim'.
My SLW's are rather aggressive.

 

[Nksg75]

I agree with the painless peepers!! I have a bully as well, and I put these on her, and it settled her down!!
She still is not nice, but at least the others don't have to endure her as much

I meant pinless not painless

 

[Nksg75]

I meant pinless not painless

What would you do if you had 3/20 aggressive hens?
Do you separate all 3?