Bullying Issue Need Help

[gltrap54]

Chickens simply do this. Chicken social politics is rough. There's no real "cure", per se. They and they alone decide this stuff, in the end. There is a reason they choose to find one member of the flock as beneath them. Sometimes, it would seem that they know this particular bird or that particular bird is a weaker or less thrifty member of the flock. On what basis do they decide this? We cannot know. All we can do is observe.

If a single individual is simply a nasty bird, sometimes, sometimes culling that bird will bring harmony. But if two or three birds find a flock member objectionable? There really isn't a good solution. Sorry to say. Nature has run on the rails of survival of the fittest for thousands of years and we cannot always "undo" some of these tendencies.

Hmmm.......... Since I see other hens attacking her, she may have to go........ Hard to see her waste away.... I have to stand over her while she eats & drinks or she'd starve.........

 

[J-Sanders]

Takes a lot to change a pecking order. Can you isolate the peckee inside the coop so that the others can't get to her? Is she a late addition to an established flock? If so you may have to cull her or make another pen. Like Fred said, we cannot hope to know for sure why they do as they do but we can observe and make changes that may or may not work. Hope you get some relief as it can be very frustrating to deal with.

Jim

 

[gltrap54]

Takes a lot to change a pecking order. Can you isolate the peckee inside the coop so that the others can't get to her? Is she a late addition to an established flock? If so you may have to cull her or make another pen. Like Fred said, we cannot hope to know for sure why they do as they do but we can observe and make changes that may or may not work. Hope you get some relief as it can be very frustrating to deal with.

Jim

Thanks Jim! No late addition. I ordered all them from the hatchery together in March of 2010. Seems to be a lot of discord that I haven't seen in their past....... Really don't want to throw a rooster in the mix, but if I thought it would help........

 

[NovaAman]

Add a second feeder and waterer... that way she'll always have a place to eat...

I am fortunate to not have had any of this happen with any of my birds yet... I hope it doesn't either. I free range all day, and the only time things get peckish is when everyone has to use the same nest box even though there are five.