Chicken Bully

[Saintarno]

Howdy Folks,
I have five hens who have been together since birth. The barred rock (top hen) seems to get along with one other hen (Addie). The remaining two americanas and belfelder stick together. I’ve witnessed the barred rock peck at the Americanas to the point they have no tail feathers and recently started bleeding. I cleaned the wound and used the antiseptic ‘blue’ spray. Recently I put in a small table in the run to give the three girls a break from the bully. I’ve noticed now that these three hens spend most of the day on this table and are sleeping together on the table at night. Any ideas on how I can help these ladies get along better? Maybe they need more space? More perches? The run is 4 x 8 and includes the coop house. Appreciate any thoughts on this as I feel badly that three ladies aren’t sleeping in the coup.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The run is 4 x 8 and includes the coop house.

Any ideas on how I can help these ladies get along better? Maybe they need more space?

Yes. More space would be helpful in resolving some of your problems.

 

[rosemarythyme]

A bigger run definitely would help, both in overall space and the fact that it allows you to put in more clutter to help diffuse tension. For 5 birds the recommended minimum is 50 sq ft, however more is better and if you have the space to spare, I'd at least double that to 100 sq ft (10x10).

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Howdy Folks,
I have five hens who have been together since birth. The barred rock (top hen) seems to get along with one other hen (Addie). The remaining two americanas and belfelder stick together. I’ve witnessed the barred rock peck at the Americanas to the point they have no tail feathers and recently started bleeding. I cleaned the wound and used the antiseptic ‘blue’ spray. Recently I put in a small table in the run to give the three girls a break from the bully. I’ve noticed now that these three hens spend most of the day on this table and are sleeping together on the table at night. Any ideas on how I can help these ladies get along better? Maybe they need more space? More perches? The run is 4 x 8 and includes the coop house. Appreciate any thoughts on this as I feel badly that three ladies aren’t sleeping in the coup.

They need about three times more space and that should solve the problem.

 

[ValerieJ]

I agree. You need more space, more obstacles, multiple feeding and watering stations. If they're sleeping on the table, then there is not enough coop space either. Where are you? If you are in a warm climate year round, then I suppose they can sleep in the run.

 

[Saintarno]

I agree. You need more space, more obstacles, multiple feeding and watering stations. If they're sleeping on the table, then there is not enough coop space either. Where are you? If you are in a warm climate year round, then I suppose they can sleep in the run.

thank you for the feedback, everyone! I’m in New England so it’s cold in the winter. They were sleeping in the coop all along but recently (2 days ago) they started sleeping on the table we provided. I’ll def look at how I can give them more space. My coop/run sits on top of a concrete base so I’ll have to figure out how to modify the run. Thanks again!

 

[Acre4Me]

You could put the bully in time out for a few days. Move her into a garage or similar in a dog cage to reset flock dynamics. When returned to flock she may no longer wield such pecking order power.

in you current run, assuming it is a pre-fab type of coop/run combo. Can you install a scrap piece of plywood or old plastic storage lid to kind of divide the bottom run area a bit...not completely cut off, an area on each side open for walking between the two sides. This give a visual disruption (like the table) so bully can’t always see them. Curious if they tend to use one part of the run more than another bc of wind/wet exposure. If this is the case, then adding something, like thick clear plastic, to the run sides to keep weather/wind/wet away might help them utilize the whole run comfortably.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of the coop/run?

 

[sourland]

To me it sounds like the barred rock rather than bullying has developed the bad habit of feather pecking/plucking. Do an on site search on 'Pin Less Peepers'. They might help break this habit. I agree that more space might help.

 

[Nor-Cal Chickens]

Several good points have been brought up so I won't repeat those. One other item to factor in after completing the other recommendations would be to possibly get a rooster so that he can step in and diffuse any potential problems amongst the hens.