Bullying

[prinellie]

No like brahmas!! Haha! I would make soup

 

[DawnLee]

I’m one of those people who refuse to use Amazon and they sell mass quantities when you only need a few. I ordered from McMurray Hatchery. You have to order the pliers too. My son watched YouTube videos to see how to apply them. Kind of stinks that they come with no instructions.

https://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/pinless_peepers.html

Thanks!

 

[lv9777]

IMO you can't get sweeter and more docile than Cochins. My Barred Rock is the bully, but the Cochins do very little to antagonize and never challenge.

 

[Deb6Chicks]

Chickens are easy they say! Not!

Never had chickens before. I bought my first flock of 6 hens almost 3 months ago. Two Brahmas, two EEs, one Orphington, and one Sussex. I was told that they were 16 months old. They were all in the same huge run. I put them in a 5 x 10 coop/run combo. The coop itself is 3 x 5. I added an extended 12 x 16 run. They have plenty of space, food, treats. The run is dirt which I often turn over. The hens don't even wait until I am finished to start scratching.

They seemed to get along up until about a couple of weeks ago. My Sussex started keeping to herself in the corner and keeping her right eye shut. I brought her to the vet. He said her 3rd eyelid was inflamed and swollen. I was given antibiotic/anti-inflammatory ointment. I had witnessed my Brahma picking on her. She seemed to attack her for no reason. I am thinking she caused the injured eye. I have pushed her away from her. Held her down, turned her upside down. Nothing seems to stop her from attacking my Sussex. I separated part of the run for my Sussex to allow her to heal. Even in there she was still just standing in the corner. I was having a hard time trying to open her eye for the ointment so I brought her back to the vet and they gave her an antibiotic injection. After a couple of days she started to move around the enclosure a bit more. I did allow my Sussex to go into the coop at night time but she doesn't want to come out on her own in the morning. I have been having to physically move her back to her enclosure.

This morning I moved my Sussex back into the main run and observed the other hens with her. She was timid and kept in one spot. Everything was fine for about 15 minutes but then one of the Brahmas decided to go after her again. I reacted right away and pinned her down. A few minutes later the other Brahma went after her. I decided to move the two Brahmas into the enclosure and leave the Sussex in the main run. She is so timid that she goes into a corner and won't move.

My other issue is one of the Brahmas is also picking on the other Brahma. I thought they would all be okay with each other since they all came from the same place. I am so stressed out trying to keep my Sussex safe, and the bully from being bullied. I am concerned that I won't be able to integrate her back into the flock. I am not sure what else to do.

Sorry for the long post. Just trying to paint a better picture.

I am going through this same situation right now ....its had me crying for days. I have an olive egger that just keeps attacking my sweet RIRed ....she's cowering in corner all the time head facing the wall. The minute I go in coop little red flocks to me and stays by my feet. I've Been removing the bully and putting her in the run on her own ...they are right next to one another so they can all still see each other. Today I think I've made the decision sadly to rehome the olive egger and praying it restores calm to My hen house. My chick's are only months old and these last two weeks have felt like a year.... good luck with yours it was comforting to know others go through this to. I knew I shouldn't have gotten so emotionally attached to these sweet hens but to late now

 

[Pghelp]

@DawnLee, I’m responding to report on the great Pinless Peeper experiment. I was only going to leave them on for a couple of weeks, but my flock is so peaceful that I dread taking the PP off my two bullies. Everyone at this time is getting along including integrating the now 3 month old pullets raised by one of my broody hens. A sad occurrence was the loss of my oldest Easter Egger who didn’t survive a battle with the Americauna. The leaders of the flock are ostracizing their bully Americauna now and she has tentatively joined the mini-flock of the 3 month olds who have no interest in challenging anyone’s position. Everyone eats and drinks together. The littles and the bully sleep inside the coop and the leaders of the flock roost on top of the coop since it is still rather hot here.

I didn’t think I would ever become an advocate for the Pinless Peepers but it was coming down to having to get rid of two of my best layers. For now there’s peace in the run thanks to the PP!

 

[DawnLee]

I am going through this same situation right now ....its had me crying for days. I have an olive egger that just keeps attacking my sweet RIRed ....she's cowering in corner all the time head facing the wall. The minute I go in coop little red flocks to me and stays by my feet. I've Been removing the bully and putting her in the run on her own ...they are right next to one another so they can all still see each other. Today I think I've made the decision sadly to rehome the olive egger and praying it restores calm to My hen house. My chick's are only months old and these last two weeks have felt like a year.... good luck with yours it was comforting to know others go through this to. I knew I shouldn't have gotten so emotionally attached to these sweet hens but to late now

I ended up rehoming the bullies and all is right, right now. Sorry you have to do the same. Hope it works out.

 

[DawnLee]

@DawnLee, I’m responding to report on the great Pinless Peeper experiment. I was only going to leave them on for a couple of weeks, but my flock is so peaceful that I dread taking the PP off my two bullies. Everyone at this time is getting along including integrating the now 3 month old pullets raised by one of my broody hens. A sad occurrence was the loss of my oldest Easter Egger who didn’t survive a battle with the Americauna. The leaders of the flock are ostracizing their bully Americauna now and she has tentatively joined the mini-flock of the 3 month olds who have no interest in challenging anyone’s position. Everyone eats and drinks together. The littles and the bully sleep inside the coop and the leaders of the flock roost on top of the coop since it is still rather hot here.

I didn’t think I would ever become an advocate for the Pinless Peepers but it was coming down to having to get rid of two of my best layers. For now there’s peace in the run thanks to the PP!

Thanks for the update. Sorry you have had such a hard time with them. I did end up rehoming my 2 bullies, best layers. But, now they are all getting along. I am down to 4 now so I want to add more. Hope I don't go through the same situation with the newbies. Good luck to you.

 

[Deb6Chicks]

I ended up rehoming the bullies and all is right, right now. Sorry you have to do the same. Hope it works out.

Saturday we found a lovely Home for our olive egger bully bear ....so far we have a little peaceful happy group of 5

 

[Mrs. K]

It really doesn't matter, if it is the square feet, or the type of birds, or all the things one tries. What matters is, what you are doing isn't working, you need to try something else.

Sometimes clutter will help, sometimes a time out for the bully, or a space for the victim to get some confidence, or selling a bird that doesn't fit in the flock or pin -less peepers.

What will NOT work, is wishing they would all be nice. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

 

[DawnLee]

It really doesn't matter, if it is the square feet, or the type of birds, or all the things one tries. What matters is, what you are doing isn't working, you need to try something else.

Sometimes clutter will help, sometimes a time out for the bully, or a space for the victim to get some confidence, or selling a bird that doesn't fit in the flock or pin -less peepers.

What will NOT work, is wishing they would all be nice. Always solve for peace in the flock.

Mrs K

Yep, rehomed my bullies. They are doing great in their new home.