Bullying

[LittleMissCountry]

Is there any way to break bullying behavior? My four girls have always gotten along well, but in the past week, as they get closer to POL (one is laying already), one buff orp is way behind in development of combs and wattles, and there is a black sex link that is relentlessly pecking her. She isn't drawing blood yet, but she is causing the buff orp to lose weight (even with multiple feeders out), and the poor chicken is choosing to stay inside the coop, even when I let them free range. She (the victim) is stressed and even bit me yesterday hard enough to draw blood, which she has never done before.
Any tips would be appreciated.

Oh and they are not overcrowded and I have put out multiple feeders and water dishes

 

[sourland]

Sometimes removing the bully from the flock for several days helps. They are hormonal as they approach laying age and hopefully will settle down once they start laying.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Sometimes removing the bully from the flock for several days helps. They are hormonal as they approach laying age and hopefully will settle down once they start laying.

I can do that easily enough. Should I keep her in the portable run during the day where she can see the others, or keep her out of sight? She is close to laying, 20 weeks and full comb and wattles, doing the squat and scratching in the nesting boxes.

 

[ChickenRelatedUserName]

What I did was put a chicken diaper onto the Bully. Then when I saw her bullying, I'd run over and depants her by pulling the diaper down to her ankles. I always made sure to do it in front of her friends, and sometimes I'd invite the neighbors over to create a bigger crowd to laugh at her. 7 or 8 months of that and she never bullied again!

Best of luck.

 

[LittleMissCountry]

What I did was put a chicken diaper onto the Bully. Then when I saw her bullying, I'd run over and depants her by pulling the diaper down to her ankles. I always made sure to do it in front of her friends, and sometimes I'd invite the neighbors over to create a bigger crowd to laugh at her. 7 or 8 months of that and she never bullied again!

Best of luck.

 

[rebelusa2000]

Hello!

What I do to bullies? I take a long stick, (not hitting the chicken with it), and chasing it around the run until I think it gets my point. I single it out for a round. . Chickens HATE that!
Doesn't help?

I've been known to catch the bully and give them the grand tour... put them under an arm and take them around where you live, like yard. Have the dogs sniff'em, maybe show to your neighbor.
Take them back to the chicken run and put them down where you caught it.

It's weird, but works.

 

[aart]

@LittleMissCountry how did this end up working out?

 

[LittleMissCountry]

@LittleMissCountry how did this end up working out?

I tried taking out the bully for awhile and while it gave the poor picked on hen a break, she resumed bullying as soon as she came back in. So I took the picked on hen out for a week, along with the other buff orp, since they get along well, and kept them out during the day in the portable pen, and put them back in the coop at night when the others went to bed. Then after a week, I let them all out to free range together. She seemed to gain some confidence and fluffed up when picked on instead of running away squawking.
Then we had a week straight of rain so they were all in the coop and covered run together. So far, so good. The bully is still peckinh at her but she is fighting back a bit and not getting pushed away from food or water.

 

[aart]

So I took the picked on hen out for a week, along with the other buff orp, since they get along well, and kept them out during the day in the portable pen, and put them back in the coop at night when the others went to bed. Then after a week, I let them all out to free range together. She seemed to gain some confidence and fluffed up when picked on instead of running away squawking.

Azygous touts this theory, it makes a lot of sense, glad to see it put to use successfully. Congrats!

 

[LittleMissCountry]

Azygous touts this theory, it makes a lot of sense, glad to see it put to use successfully. Congrats!

Thanks. I think I read it in one of Azygous's posts in another bullying thread. It makes for a much happier flock when they can get along!!