Chicken Pecking Order that has gotten out of hand...

[ellend]

Is the "no peck" ointment the ointment I read about that puts coloration on the aggressive hen, so you can know which one is doing the pecking? Or does it taste bad or just what? Thanks for the info!

It's basically a colorant to disguise the pecked area so that it doesn't attract more unwanted attention. I'd put blueing on that bad bird!

 

[ellend]

There are breeds that are more aggressive, and more competitive than others. Not all RIR are problems, but many are when mixed with docile breeds. It's as simple as that - you're more likely to have problems mixing RIR with Silkies than you are just keeping Silkies (or RIR). "More likely" does not mean "in every case".

Edited by staff

My banties are ALL Old English Game. Two (friends, of course!) are so stinkin' mean to a shy one (yes she DOES have "target" written on her) that I do have to house her separately. One might think she'd be lonely, but she's relieved! Happier, relaxed, eats better... Even when they have the entire yard to run (I'm talking about before I separated her from them, here) they would run across the yard to bully her. They pick on the other lower birds too, but not as bad. The top bird of this pair is quite dominant, and loved to rip feathers out of her victim. Faye Raye wasn't allowed ON the roost, let alone in a close spot! It got so she was afraid to go near food, even though I deliberately kept food and water in two places just for her. Since Faye herself is a little "different," it seemed like a better decision to protect her than to disrupt the rest of the flock. In your situation, I'd focus on the bully instead. Hope those peepers work for you. I HATE the idea of it, but do members think that a partial de-beaking would protect the others, if the blinders don't work?

 

[Tutu of 5]

Try using Vicks Vapor Rub on the chicken that is getting pecked. I had the same problem when introducing a new hen and Vicks solved the problem. Now everyone in the coop is friends.

As sensitive as birds are in their breathing, won't that bother the "picked on" hen and the rest of the flock too?

 

[ellend]

Haha....I was thinking the same thing! Maybe "Jailbird"? LOL Any suggestions out there?

How about "Parolee?" "HouseArrest?"

So glad to hear things are going well!

 

[Tutu of 5]

Haha! "Timeout"?

 

[ellend]

TuTu of five-

I have raised and been around chickens for sixty (60) years. I don't remember who said it, but one said to eat the aggressive hen. You didn't respond so I would like to comment.
First- you said she crowed! There is an old saying, "A whistling girl and a crowning hen will a come to a no good end!" Years ago- before people tried to have a "few" chickens as pets instead of many for eggs and meat, if a hen crowed she was instantly killed and not even afforded the decency of being eaten. Which is what would happen to any hen I had to crow- by the way I keep somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred (100) birds and it is amazing to me the advice some give for proper feeding. Mine are (mostly) show birds. The lack of protein WILL cause them to eat feathers from the other birds but this hen is warped!
Second- All chickens do have those that are more aggressive and the breed is not necessary the cause, although some are. But RIR are not normally aggressive, however if one hen is more afraid, runs and hides etc, the aggressive ones will pick up on that and cause them to REALLY pick on those. Just like kids in school that pick of the skittish kid- being boys or girls.

My first Old English Game Bantam (who was a stray!!!) would crow under certain circumstances, but laid eggs and was a FANTASTIC mother. When I introduced new chickens she would beat on them (no blood, just scary for them) for two days, and after she was sure they understood who led, she was wonderful with all of them. She was the best pet chicken we've ever had.

 

[ellend]

Love the red nail polish idea! With dogs, we'd call this "redirecting!"

 

[Tutu of 5]

My banties are ALL Old English Game. Two (friends, of course!) are so stinkin' mean to a shy one (yes she DOES have "target" written on her) that I do have to house her separately. One might think she'd be lonely, but she's relieved! Happier, relaxed, eats better... Even when they have the entire yard to run (I'm talking about before I separated her from them, here) they would run across the yard to bully her. They pick on the other lower birds to, but not as bad. The top bird of this pair is quite dominant, and loved to rip feathers out of her victim. Faye Raye wasn't allowed ON the roost, let alone in a close spot! It got so she was afraid to go near food, even though I deliberately kept food and water in two places just for her. Since Faye herself is a little "different," it seemed like a better decision to protect her than to disrupt the rest of the flock. In your situation, I'd focus on the bully instead. Hope those peepers work for you. I HATE the idea of it, but do members think that a partial de-beaking would protect the others, if the blinders don't work?

I read that, sometimes the EE's get picked on because they look "different" to other birds. You know, they have such distinctive facial characteristics. What breed is Faye?

I also read about debeaking, and I know I would never do that. I own an Eclectus parrot too and have had him for 10 years now. When parrots' beaks get too long, some people file them down, just like you would their nails. That disturbs me too as there are natural things you can do, put items in their play areas that they can scratch their beak on to keep it properly trimmed up, etc., that I do instead. The bleeding that comes with filing that part of the parrot just seems very unhealthy to me.

I imagine that debeaking would be bloody too? No? It just sounds inhumane. I think I would rather re-home her, with full disclosure of her past aggressiveness of course, before debeaking her.

 

[ellend]

I read that, sometimes the EE's get picked on because they look "different" to other birds. You know, they have such distinctive facial characteristics. What breed is Faye?

I also read about debeaking, and I know I would never do that. I own an Eclectus parrot too and have had him for 10 years now. When parrots' beaks get too long, some people file them down, just like you would their nails. That disturbs me too as there are natural things you can do, put items in their play areas that they can scratch their beak on to keep it properly trimmed up, etc., that I do instead. The bleeding that comes with filing that part of the parrot just seems very unhealthy to me.

I imagine that debeaking would be bloody too? No? It just sounds inhumane. I think I would rather re-home her, with full disclosure of her past aggressiveness of course, before debeaking her.

I agree that it would be LAST resort to consider before killing her. But re-homing? Pass the aggressive bird onto somebody else, who might not care about protecting his/her less dominant birds? I wouldn't do it. To me, that sounds more cruel to the other persons' birds, who no more deserve bullying than yours do. I have never debeaked, nor have I ever seen it done. I certainly wouldn't want to, either. If it was the only alternative to dispatching her, though, I would at least look into it, and see what more experienced members have to say.
Re: parrots: sometimes filing is absolutely necessary to help the bird eat. There should not be any blood!!! Sometimes there are beak growth anomalies that aren't corrected by the normal good husbandry measures of providing adequate chew items to keep the beak normally "filed."
All my bantams are Old English Game. All purchased at one time as poults. Faye is exceptionally docile, though, and seems to lack...something. She doesn't stay with the flock, etc.; seems to be missing some component of survival skills, or else just too afraid of all the others to stay near them. She's been targeted by a hawk, chosen over the others when I was only feet away from her. I chose her for extreme docility, even though she was poorly kept. Unfortunately, too docile for the rest of the crowd. So, we take care of her; she's our responsibility. And now, alone, she seems more relaxed than she ever has.

 

[Tutu of 5]

I agree that it would be LAST resort to consider before killing her. But re-homing? Pass the aggressive bird onto somebody else, who might not care about protecting his/her less dominant birds? I wouldn't do it. To me, that sounds more cruel to the other persons' birds, who no more deserve bullying than yours do. I have never debeaked, nor have I ever seen it done. I certainly wouldn't want to, either. If it was the only alternative to dispatching her, though, I would at least look into it, and see what more experienced members have to say.

I understand what you mean, but wouldn't re-homing her put her low in the pecking order of the new flock and change her aggressiveness because she'd have to answer to the established birds in the new flock? That's what others have suggested anyway.

Before doing anything about Bossy, I will give her every chance to get along with her flock mates. She already is making good strides towards that and is very docile at times. I haven't seen her pick on any other bird since her "jail time" which is outstanding for all of us. She has taken to following me around and comes and stands on my feet, almost like she is looking for recognition or affection. She's becoming very sweet. YAY!

Thanks for the comments.