Bullying

[cindyvwbug]

We started with 5 hens and added 7 more. Before adding the 7 we noticed one hen was losing feathers off her head. We could never figure out which one was doing the pecking until we combined the groups. We have it norrowed down to 2 hens. We have separated them for about a week, put no peck on her head, gave them a pecking block ( not my favorite because it smells and they were not eating well), they have plenty of room in the run, 2 feeding trays, and we let them free range once a day. I thought about getting pinless peeps but they seem mean. Any suggestions?

 

[azygous]

It's actually more important to identify and treat the bullying victims than try to deal directly with the bullies. This is for the simple reason that victims give off a 'vibe" that the bullies are tuned to, and as a result, the victims, for all practical purposes, invite the bullying with their own behavior. I lay this all out along with the treatment plan here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/

 

[BoopNCo]

We started with 5 hens and added 7 more. Before adding the 7 we noticed one hen was losing feathers off her head. We could never figure out which one was doing the pecking until we combined the groups. We have it norrowed down to 2 hens. We have separated them for about a week, put no peck on her head, gave them a pecking block ( not my favorite because it smells and they were not eating well), they have plenty of room in the run, 2 feeding trays, and we let them free range once a day. I thought about getting pinless peeps but they seem mean. Any suggestions?

My rooster's nip bullying in the bud. But if rooster's aren't an option, find the most docile gal and pair them up in a small crate over night. Typically the trauma of being caged bonds them, and then by morning your victim has an ally. Unless she's bleeding. Keep seperated till bleeding is well scabbed over. I use cornstarch to speed this up. If you try to seperate with a friend chicken, watch carefully to make sure the friend chicken doesn't go after the victims injury. When you return to coop, do so at night after everyone is in bed.